Yemeni president’s departure "unacceptable”: party
Saturday, 26 March 2011
Saleh said he was ready to cede power to stop more bloodshed, but only to what he called "safe hands"
SANAA (AlArabiya.net, Agencies) The party of Yemen's embattled president has rejected protester demands for him to resign as "unacceptable," while blaming the opposition for raising tensions, Saba state news agency reported Saturday.
"It is unacceptable and illogical to override the constitutional legality or for the minority to impose its will on the majority of the people," the General People's Congress party said according to Saba.
A Friday meeting of the party's top decision-making body was spent "reviewing the obstinate position of the (Islamist) Al-Islah party and its allies... which have closed the door for dialogue and sought escalation," Saba said.
It is unacceptable and illogical to override the constitutional legality or for the minority to impose its will on the majority of the people 
The government cannot just shoot its way out of this crisis
"It is unacceptable and illogical to override the constitutional legality or for the minority to impose its will on the majority of the people," the General People's Congress party said according to Saba.
A Friday meeting of the party's top decision-making body was spent "reviewing the obstinate position of the (Islamist) Al-Islah party and its allies... which have closed the door for dialogue and sought escalation," Saba said.
It is unacceptable and illogical to override the constitutional legality or for the minority to impose its will on the majority of the people General People\'s Congress party
The party's political bureau said al-Islah's allies included parliamentary opposition parties, northern Shiite rebels and al-Qaeda, Saba said.
It also said that three million people turned out on Friday to express their support for the embattled Saleh.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in power since 1978, has faced mounting pressure to leave office from continuing protests against his rule, and defections by top military, tribal and religious leaders.
Saleh said on Friday he was ready to cede power to stop more bloodshed in Yemen, but only to what he called "safe hands" as tens of thousands rallied against him in "Day of Departure" protests.
Talks were underway on two tracks to work out the details of a deal on a peaceful transition of power in the Arabian Peninsula state that is home to a resurgent arm of al-Qaeda, Yemeni political sources said.
Western countries are concerned al-Qaeda militants could exploit any disorder arising from a messy transition if Saleh, a pivotal U.S. and Saudi ally fighting for his political life, finally steps down after 32 years in office.
"We don't want power, but we need to hand power over to safe hands, not to sick, resentful or corrupt hands," Saleh said in a rousing speech to tens of thousands of supporters in Sanaa.
The protesters waved pictures of Saleh and banners saying, "No to chaos, yes to security and stability". Some carried guns and traditional Yemeni daggers, others waved flags and played patriotic songs.
"We are against firing a single bullet, and when we give concessions this is to ensure there is no bloodshed. We will remain steadfast and challenge them with all power we have."
It also said that three million people turned out on Friday to express their support for the embattled Saleh.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in power since 1978, has faced mounting pressure to leave office from continuing protests against his rule, and defections by top military, tribal and religious leaders.
Saleh said on Friday he was ready to cede power to stop more bloodshed in Yemen, but only to what he called "safe hands" as tens of thousands rallied against him in "Day of Departure" protests.
Talks were underway on two tracks to work out the details of a deal on a peaceful transition of power in the Arabian Peninsula state that is home to a resurgent arm of al-Qaeda, Yemeni political sources said.
Western countries are concerned al-Qaeda militants could exploit any disorder arising from a messy transition if Saleh, a pivotal U.S. and Saudi ally fighting for his political life, finally steps down after 32 years in office.
"We don't want power, but we need to hand power over to safe hands, not to sick, resentful or corrupt hands," Saleh said in a rousing speech to tens of thousands of supporters in Sanaa.
The protesters waved pictures of Saleh and banners saying, "No to chaos, yes to security and stability". Some carried guns and traditional Yemeni daggers, others waved flags and played patriotic songs.
"We are against firing a single bullet, and when we give concessions this is to ensure there is no bloodshed. We will remain steadfast and challenge them with all power we have."
"Day of Departure"
The government cannot just shoot its way out of this crisis Philip Luther
But across the capital, tens of thousands of anti-government protesters held their own "Day of Departure" rally to demand the departure of the president, a serial survivor of civil war, separatist movements and militant attacks. The protesters handed out red cards telling the president to "Get out".
Shooting broke out when soldiers loyal to a top Yemeni general who has been protecting the protesters fired in the air to prevent a crowd of Saleh loyalists approaching the area, witnesses said.
But the violence was significantly less than a week ago, when plainclothes snipers fired into the anti-government crowd, killing 52 people.
That bloodshed prompted a string of defections that severely weakened Saleh's position including by military figures such as top general Ali Mohsen, as well as diplomats and tribal leaders.
"The government cannot just shoot its way out of this crisis," Philip Luther, Amnesty's Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said in a statement. "Whether in uniform or in plain clothes, security forces must be immediately stopped from using live ammunition on unarmed protesters."
Washington and Riyadh, Yemen's main financial backer, have long seen Saleh as a bulwark against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which has tried to stage attacks beyond Yemeni soil since 2009 in both Saudi Arabia and United States.
Yemen lies on key shipping routes and borders Saudi Arabia, the world's leading oil exporter. It has often seemed to be on the brink of disintegration: northern Shiites often taken up arms against Saleh and southerners dream of a separate state.
With no clear successor to Saleh in line and conflicts gripping north and south Yemen, the country of 23 million faces the risk of a breakup, in addition to poverty, a water shortage, dwindling oil reserves and lack of central government control.
Washington and Riyadh, Yemen's main financial backer, have long seen Saleh as a bulwark against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which has tried to stage attacks beyond Yemeni soil since 2009 in both Saudi Arabia and United States.
Yemen lies on key shipping routes and borders Saudi Arabia, the world's leading oil exporter. It has often seemed to be on the brink of disintegration: northern Shiites often taken up arms against Saleh and southerners dream of a separate state.
With no clear successor to Saleh in line and conflicts gripping north and south Yemen, the country of 23 million faces the risk of a breakup, in addition to poverty, a water shortage, dwindling oil reserves and lack of central government control.
Shooting broke out when soldiers loyal to a top Yemeni general who has been protecting the protesters fired in the air to prevent a crowd of Saleh loyalists approaching the area, witnesses said.
But the violence was significantly less than a week ago, when plainclothes snipers fired into the anti-government crowd, killing 52 people.
That bloodshed prompted a string of defections that severely weakened Saleh's position including by military figures such as top general Ali Mohsen, as well as diplomats and tribal leaders.
"The government cannot just shoot its way out of this crisis," Philip Luther, Amnesty's Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said in a statement. "Whether in uniform or in plain clothes, security forces must be immediately stopped from using live ammunition on unarmed protesters."
Washington and Riyadh, Yemen's main financial backer, have long seen Saleh as a bulwark against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which has tried to stage attacks beyond Yemeni soil since 2009 in both Saudi Arabia and United States.
Yemen lies on key shipping routes and borders Saudi Arabia, the world's leading oil exporter. It has often seemed to be on the brink of disintegration: northern Shiites often taken up arms against Saleh and southerners dream of a separate state.
With no clear successor to Saleh in line and conflicts gripping north and south Yemen, the country of 23 million faces the risk of a breakup, in addition to poverty, a water shortage, dwindling oil reserves and lack of central government control.
Washington and Riyadh, Yemen's main financial backer, have long seen Saleh as a bulwark against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which has tried to stage attacks beyond Yemeni soil since 2009 in both Saudi Arabia and United States.
Yemen lies on key shipping routes and borders Saudi Arabia, the world's leading oil exporter. It has often seemed to be on the brink of disintegration: northern Shiites often taken up arms against Saleh and southerners dream of a separate state.
With no clear successor to Saleh in line and conflicts gripping north and south Yemen, the country of 23 million faces the risk of a breakup, in addition to poverty, a water shortage, dwindling oil reserves and lack of central government control.
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