...and Yemen!

[Kizmet]

For starters the opposition coalition. Make your argument true.

In what way would that pointless tangent be a measure of it's truth?

I fear you are missing the point.

 

[teqniq]

It's not so much that, more that some people have lost their usual sense of cricitcal balance in the face of such exciting events.

Including the Yemen President:

Yemen's American-backed president accused the U.S. and Israel of carrying out a "Zionist agenda" to foment revolution across the Arab world, as thousands of protesters poured into streets Tuesday in the largest rallies yet demanding his resignation.

Speaking to university students and academics in the capital, President Ali Abdullah Saleh said that the U.S. and Israel were behind the protest movements that have swept leaders from power in Tunisia and Egypt and have threatened regimes across Northern Africa and the Middle East.

"I am going to reveal a secret," Saleh said at Sanaa University. "There is an operations room in Tel Aviv with the aim of destabilizing the Arab world. The operations room is in Tel Aviv and run by the White House."......

http://www.npr.org/2011/03/01/134164395/yemeni-leader-accuses-u-s-israel-of-plotting-unrest

 

[Kizmet]

He said opposition figures meet regularly with the U . S. ambassador in Sanaa to coordinate efforts.
"Regrettably those [opposition figures] are sitting day and
night with the American ambassador where they hand him
reports and he gives them instructions," Saleh said. "The
Americans also talk with the government officials about
this [the protests] , but they tell them, "Allow these people
to demonstrate in the streets.'

Someone should go tell Saleh that butchersapron doesn't think that counts as an advisor....

 

[teqniq]

@ Kizmet I have no wish to add fuel to fire; in fact I rather suspect that the President is making unsubstantiated claims rather than face the unpalatable truth that maybe his governance is wanting. The whole tone of the article suggests this - to me anyway. That was why I included Barking_Mad's post in mine, it seemed fitting.

 

[Kizmet]

@ Kizmet I have no wish to add fuel to fire; in fact I rather suspect that the President is making unsubstantiated claims rather than face the unpalatable truth that maybe his governance is wanting. The whole tone of the article suggests this - to me anyway. That was why I included Barking_Mad's post in mine, it seemed fitting.

I rather suspect that too. And as I said it proves little in relation to my argument. However it's as unlikely to be completely untrue as it is completely true.

Was just beautifully timed. And was too funny an opportunity to pass up on.

 

[teqniq]

twitter:

SultanAlQassemi Sultan Al Qassemi
Al Jazeera: Yemen President spoke to Obama's advisor & apologised for "misunderstood comment" that US & Israel are behind Arab revolts.

Oops.

On a more serious note:

SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Security forces fired tear gas at hundreds of anti-government protesters in south Yemen on Wednesday, killing two demonstrators, a medical official and witnesses said.

The deaths occurred during protests in the town of Sadr in Lahaj province, a hospital official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.

Witnesses said security forces fired tear gas to disperse the protesters, who responded by setting three of police vehicles on fire.

Violence also erupted during demonstrations in the Red Sea city of Hodeida, where protesters clashed with government supporters and security forces in a battle that included sticks and rocks. Thirteen demonstrators were injured, medical officials said.

http://hosted2.ap.org/txdam/633c954...-02-Yemen/id-ecb56ec541f5401e99f1ab091f2ea48d

further update pic of protests in Yemen today from this tweet:

3arabawy Hossam عمو حسام
#Protests in #Yemen مظاهرات اليمن #Photography by AP http://online.wsj.com/media/030211pod03_J.jpg

 

[quimcunx]

So Saleh has met with opposition leaders and agreed an exit plan for him to leave.

http://www.sify.com/news/yemeni-president-working-on-exit-plan-news-international-lddpaiecdhe.html

he coalition said: 'The president agreed to determine the series of steps he will take to leave power, with no inheritance, during a period of time that will not extend beyond this year.'

Is this enough for the protesters? And how will it be handled so he doesn't double cross them?

 

[elbows]

It seems to have gotten even more unstable in Yemen recently, and the presidents moves grow ever more desperate. Now trying to do an orderly transition to a parliamentary system, but it may be too late for that now.

 

[quimcunx]

Yemen police have stormed protesters camp, 2nd time in 3 days, apparently. 1 reported dead so far.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/12/us-yemen-attack-idUSTRE72B0SX20110312


Also being claimed that nerve gas has been used. Govt denies.

 

[butchersapron]

4 dead at least, hundreds wounded

 

[quimcunx]

AJE are reporting at least 30 dead and 200 injured in Sanaa today.

 

[klang]

AJE are reporting at least 30 dead and 200 injured in Sanaa today.

fuck!

friend of mine just reported from sana'a - all seems relatively quiet (round the city centre) as the anti government protests are contained in the university area on the outskirts. there's no way in or out.
pro-saleh protests are held in Tah Rir square, and old sana'a is even more covered with saleh posters than in 'peaceful' times. he's obviously trying to build up an even more ever-present persona cult.

one thing that hasn't been reported in western press (afaik) is the turn of saleh's stance towards the west - american-zionist conspiracy speeches seem to be a daily occurance.

 

[elbows]

one thing that hasn't been reported in western press (afaik) is the turn of saleh's stance towards the west - american-zionist conspiracy speeches seem to be a daily occurance.

The first time he did this it was widely reported, along with a follow-up story about him talking to Obama about this and sort-of apologising. Its quite likely that he will try to reassure his western partners that this is merely propaganda targetting his domestic audience, and that he has not actually changed his stance towards the west.

 

[klang]

The first time he did this it was widely reported, along with a follow-up story about him talking to Obama about this and sort-of apologising. Its quite likely that he will try to reassure his western partners that this is merely propaganda targetting his domestic audience, and that he has not actually changed his stance towards the west.

makes sense as he sure doesn't want to risk his partnership and aid agreements.
i seem to remember that saleh on the eve of the first gulf war happened to be on the security council and voted against the invasion, which led to all american aid being stopped over night ('the most expensive vote'). aid was re-installed when saleh became an ally in the war on terror.
either way, in terms of the west supporting him he has to choose his rhetoric very carefully....

 

[dylans]

State of emergency declared

 

[klang]

doesn't look good!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12783585

 

[elbows]

A journalist was apparently one of the dead, and I've also just heard something (not in the article Im linking to) about one AlJazeera journalist being deported, and another being sought by the authorities.

http://cpj.org/2011/03/in-yemen-a-journalist-fatally-shot-another-injured.php

 

[klang]

....and did you see saleh's speech on AJ!?! waffling on about how he had withdrawn security services previous to the slaughter and how the shooting was supposed to be started by locals who felt threatened by the protesters....
i wish there were more reports from outside sana'a, outside saleh's stronghold. apparently the (much larger) protests in taizz and aden are more led by the poor and oppressed, rather than the young educated elite of sana'a university.
i do wonder if saleh knows that his last dance on the snake's heads has began....

 

[klang]

and I've also just heard something (not in the article Im linking to) about one AlJazeera journalist being deported, and another being sought by the authorities.

http://www.yemenpost.net/Detail123456789.aspx?ID=3&SubID=3295&MainCat=3

Yemeni government forced two Al-Jazeera correspondents to leave Yemen Saturday morning. Sources told the Yemen Post that Ahmed Zidan and Abdu Haq Sadah took the plane from Sana'a to Cairo to Doha.
Last month, Yemeni government prohibited them from covering the current unrest situation and protests in Yemen, but they continued on their.
Authorities in Yemen accused Al-Jazeera Channel of inciting hatred, exaggerating in news, and distorting of the current situation in Yemen.
Two months ago, President Ali Abdullah Saleh said that Al-Jazeera channel serves Zionist and terrorist groups.

 

[klang]

A journalist was apparently one of the dead,

from the same source as above:

One journalist was fatally shot and another wounded in Sana's today when Yemeni security forces used live ammunition to disperse demonstrators from a central protest area, killing dozens of people. The death of photographer Jamal al-Sharaabi is the first confirmed media fatality in Yemen since political unrest began in January, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Al-Sharaabi, a photojournalist for the independent weekly Al-Masdar, was among 44 individuals killed by security forces who opened fire on a demonstration against President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 33-year-long rule, local media and the Yemeni Journalists' Syndicate (YJS) reported. Most of the victims were shot in the head or the neck, according to local media. New accounts described at least some of the gunmen as snipers.
Several hundred more civilians were wounded by security forces' fire at the demonstration site in a square outside the main entrance to Sana'a University, news reports said. Among them was a photojournalist, working for the BBC Arabic service, who was shot in the shoulder, the BBC reported. The photojournalist was not identified by name.
"We extend our condolences to the family and colleagues of Jamal al-Sharaabi, who was killed today as he performed his professional duties," said Mohamed Abdel Dayem, CPJ's Middle East and North Africa program coordinator. "This killing comes on the heels of many weeks of increasingly hostile rhetoric and violent reprisals against independent and critical media."
The Yemeni Journalists' Syndicate has documented more than 50 separate attacks on journalists since political unrest began in January. The attacks include abductions, assaults, confiscation of equipment, and threats of violence against journalists and their families.

 

[klang]

...and on a slightly different but related note: it seems impossible at the moment to get hold of people in yemen. mobile phone lines seem down most of the time. might be my bad luck though (not that unusual for yemen). i'll keep trying and will report back from people on the ground

 

[klang]

also:

Doctor Jalal Fakera, a former Yemen's Agriculture Minister and Doctor Abdul Wahab Al-Rohani, a former Yemen's Culture Minister resigned from the ruling General People Congress party, GPC.

interesting for me, as i've met them both in very different circumstances. Abdul Wahab Al-Rohan wasn't the most exciting character, whilst Jalal Fakera was very interesting and intelligent. I spent an afternoon with him on Sana'a's new uni campus, and over the last few days i had wondered what his stance on the events was....i've been looking for his business card to get in touch with him, but it might have fallen victim to the many house-moves i went through since...

 

[Divisive Cotton]

Reports that Saudi tanks have crossed the border

 

[elbows]

(Reuters) - Yemen's ambassador to the United Nations Abdullah Alsaidi has resigned, the latest high-ranking member of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's government to quit in protest against the killing of dozens of demonstrators.

Nasr Taha Mustafa, head of the state news agency and a leading ruling party member, said on Saturday he was giving up both his post and the party.

Another party member, Mohamed Saleh Qara'a, told Reuters on Saturday he had also quit because of the "completely unacceptable" violence.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/20/us-yemen-resignation-idUSTRE72J23V20110320

 

[elbows]

Reports that Saudi tanks have crossed the border

Where are these reports?

 

[quimcunx]

Sorry if this is old news but just saw that he's sacked the government and also that his own tribe has called for him to step down. Is that right?

 

[Divisive Cotton]

Where are these reports?

Twitter - so must be true

 

[elbows]

Sorry if this is old news but just saw that he's sacked the government and also that his own tribe has called for him to step down. Is that right?

Bits of this have happened previously, but its reached a new level as this article demonstrates:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/20/yemen-funeral-protesters

Tens of thousands of mourners flooded the streets of the Yemeni capital on Sunday in a mass funeral for 52 protesters killed on Friday in a sniper attack by government loyalists. The 150,000 turnout for the funeral at Sana'a University was by far the largest gathering seen in Yemen since protests against President Ali Abdullah Saleh began in earnest over a month ago.

"The massacre has moved our revolution into its second phase," said 29-year-old medical student Mohammed Al-Iryani, whose 12-year old brother Fares was killed in Friday's violence.

And related specifically to your question:

The bloodshed has prompted a string of defections from Yemen's government; in a move echoing the early days of Libya's uprising, Yemen's ambassador to the UN, Abdullah al-Saeed, quit on Sunday citing Friday's brutal crackdown.

His resignation followed that of four government ministers, including Huda al-Ban, one of only two female ministers in the government. Her deputy, Ali Saleh Taisir, also resigned in reaction to what they termed as a "gross use of violence" again peaceful demonstrators.

Yemen's tribes, one of the few remaining bastions of the embattled Saleh's rule, appear also to be turning against him. Sadeq al-Ahmar, the leader of Yemen's most powerful tribal confederation, issued a statement on Sunday asking Saleh to respond to the people's demands and leave peacefully.

 

[quimcunx]

Cheers.

 

[klang]

Reports that Saudi tanks have crossed the border

can't find anything on it but wouldn't surprise me - border crossings have occurred on a few occasions during the war with the houthies...