SANAA/JEDDAH: Top generals, ambassadors and some tribes threw their support behind Yemen’s anti-government protesters on Monday in a major blow to President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
However, Yemen security forces expressed full support to Saleh’s regime following a mass defection by top military leaders.
Following a meeting of the National Security Council, headed by the president, Minister of Defense Mohammed Nasser Ahmed said in a statement read out on state TV: “The armed forces will stay faithful to the oath they gave before God, the nation and political leadership under the brother president Ali Abdullah Saleh ... we will not allow under any circumstances an attempt at a coup against democracy and constitutional legitimacy, or violation of the security of the nation and citizens.”
Yemeni television showed footage of Saleh swearing in new members of the appointed Shoura Council, Yemen’s upper house of Parliament.
Al Arabiya TV channel quoted Saleh as saying the majority of Yemenis were with him and that he was “holding on,” while Al Jazeera said he had asked Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal to mediate in the worsening crisis.
Maj. Gen. Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar, commander of the powerful 1st Armored Division, fired the opening salvo and joined the student-led protests. Al-Ahmar, a popular military figure, had been a close ally of the president through his 32-year rule and is a member of Saleh’s tribe.
The commander of the Eastern Military Region, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Ali Mohsen and Maj. Gen. Abdullah Ali Alewah, former minister of defense and president’s military adviser, followed suit.
The news of army defections sent a wave of delight among protesters across the country.
The newly appointed governor of Aden, Ahmed Mohammed Al-Qa’atabi, joined the politicians who have quit in protest against Saleh’s crackdown.
Yemeni expats in the Kingdom are confident that the ongoing campaign against Saleh would not fail.
Jeddah-based Yemeni salesman Jihad Al-Shairi said it is just a matter of time before Saleh leaves.
“He is only looking for a way out. I think Yasin Nouman should replace Saleh since he is a suitable candidate for the job,” Al-Shairi told Arab News, adding that the military officials have quit after realizing that the time is up for Saleh and they no longer want to be seen with the unpopular leader because it might affect their future prospects. Asked if the northern areas and the southern areas have varying views vis-à-vis political developments, he said: “We all want Saleh to leave now, and after he leaves we will start talks and complete the reform process.”
Mohammad Jarmash, a Yemeni perfume dealer, said all that the Yemenis demand today is stability. “We are concerned about safety of the country and that of our families back home.”
Yemen’s public prosecutor issued an arrest warrant for 10 people suspected of killing the protesters, according to Saba News Agency.
On Monday, Yemen’s ambassadors to Syria, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, the Arab League and China were among senior diplomats resigning or expressing support for the protest movement, Al Jazeera said.