President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s allegations, unprecedented in their harshness, signaled a growing rift with the United States that could hurt a joint campaign against Al-Qaeda terror network in Yemen.
Saleh’s comments Tuesday, including charges that the US Embassy in Sanaa is giving instructions to the protesters, appeared to be part of an attempt to silence the calls for his resignation.
Opposition parties joined for the first time Tuesday, and organizers said they brought hundreds of thousands into the streets in cities across Yemen for the largest turnout yet.
In Sanaa, tens of thousands rallied near the university, chanting “the people want the downfall of the regime.”
Sheikh Abdul-Majid Al-Zindani, considered by the US to be linked to Al-Qaeda terror network, led noon prayers and warned the government not to use force against demonstrators.
“We hail the peaceful revolution of the youths and their legitimate demands and rights,” he said. Yaseen Said Nouman, leader of the Socialist Party, which ruled south Yemen before merging with the north in 1990, also joined the rally. The Socialist party is the biggest opposition party in the south.
About 6,000 government supporters held a counter march in Sanaa, raising pictures of Saleh and shouting “No to anarchy, no to destruction.”
In a speech to about 500 students and academics at Sanaa University, Saleh appeared to be turning on his ally, claiming the US, along with Israel, is behind the protest movement.
“I am going to reveal a secret,” he said. “There is an operations room in Tel Aviv with the aim of destabilizing the Arab world. And it is run by the White House,” he said.
He said opposition figures meet regularly with the US 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 alleged.
“The Americans also talk with the government officials about this (the protests), but they tell them ‘allow these people to demonstrate in the streets’,” Saleh said. “We say that this is a Zionist agenda.” The wave of political unrest sweeping across the Arab world is a “conspiracy that serves Israel and the Zionists,” he added.
Saleh accused President Barack Obama of meddling in the affairs of Arab countries. “Why is he interfering? Is he the president of the United States or the president of the Arab world?” Saleh said.
The president reiterated that he will not relinquish power and lashed out at the opposition for rebuffing his call Monday to set up a national unity government. “The opposition is bankrupt and possesses no programs,” he said.