Jun
07
2011
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday urged the government of Yemen to begin an “immediate transition” in the absence of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. President Saleh was wounded late last week in an attack on his palace by rebel forces, reportedly having punctured a lung and suffering burns on over 40% of his body. Speaking anonymously to the New York Times a Western official said, “The burns are serious; he is not as well as his aides are portraying it.” He was taken to Saudi Arabia along with the Prime Minister and Speakers of both Houses of Parliament and other staff, to obtain medical treatment. His departure has spurred public celebrations by the opposition. Although Saleh, who has ruled for over 30 years, has given no indication he plans to resign, the Guardian reports that his cabinet is now supporting a transition. Meanwhile, in Syria, two separate incidents over the weekend left many Syrians wounded and dead. In the northern town of Jisr al-Shughour a battle between rebels and government forces turned deadly. The Syrian government today claims that 120 soldiers were killed by armed civilians and has vowed to retaliate. There are conflicting reports of Sunday’s bloody confrontation. Protestors and witnesses claim rebels killed some soldiers, but that many more were killed by their own officers after attempting to defect. Also on Sunday an estimated 23 Syrians were killed by Israeli troops on the Syria/ Israel boarder. The Syrians had gathered for a planned rally on the anniversary of the six-Day War. Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu blamed the violence on Syria, and announced plans to sue the nation through the UN, saying the Syrian government incited border violence to distract from its own political turmoil.
GUEST: Dr. Susanne Dahlgren, an Academy of Finland research fellow with the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies and the author of “Contesting Realities: The Public Sphere and Morality in Southern Yemen.”
Yemen:
Gwyenne Dyer in Common Dreams: Large number of top officials also wounded and taken to Saudi Arabia: Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Speaker of Both Houses of parliament, and Saleh’s personal security adviser
No certainty as to what caused explosion that injured Saleh – bomb, shell, or rocket.
A popular uprising in Yemen beginning earlier this year gave way to armed fighting. Writing for Common Dreams Gwynne Dyer says there are two concurrent struggles: one is a non-violent uprising led by youth, while the other is a power struggle between two elite factions. Scores of protestors have been killed or wounded in the months of protest. Saleh has so far refused to step down from the post he’s held for 33 years.
Yemeni Cabinet supporting the Gulf initiative, crafted by the Gulf Co-operation Council that gives Saleh immunity from prosecution if he resigns.
Does guest agree there are two separate struggles occurring in Yemen? Youth and tribal fighters backing one of two elite factions led Saleh or the al-Ahmar family headed by Sheikh Sadeq al-Amar leader of the Hashid tribal confederation
How much did uprising/ or will it in a transition period – be about Shia vs. Sunni? 80% of Ymenis are Sunnis. Ruling regime is Shia.
