YEMEN:SANAA – Yemen's opposition stepped up efforts to remove President Ali Abdullah Saleh yesterday, dismissing his offer to stand down after a presidential election at the end of the year.
Tensions ratcheted higher a day ahead of a planned rally that protesters have dubbed “Friday of Departure”, and presidential guards loyal to Mr Saleh clashed with army units backing opposition groups demanding his expulsion.
But a top general who has thrown his weight behind the protesters said he had no desire to take power, as fears grew of a major confrontation between rival military units in the capital Sanaa or elsewhere. Yassin Noman, head of Yemen’s opposition coalition, dismissed Mr Saleh’s offer as “empty words” and a spokesman said the umbrella coalition would not respond.
“No dialogue and no initiatives for this dead regime,” opposition spokesman Mohammed al-Sabry said.
Gen Ali Mohsen, who sent troops to protect pro-democracy protesters in Sana’a, said the options before Mr Saleh were now few, and criticised what he described as his “stubbornness”, but said the armed forces were committed to protecting protesters.
He said military rule in Arab countries was outdated and that the people would decide who would govern them in the framework of a modern, civilian state.
The general, an Islamist seen as close to the opposition, said the army would work with the international community against terrorism. – (Reuters)