Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh’s claim to Power

Despite his father being treated in Saudi Arabia following a bomb attack on the Presidential mosque, Ahmed Ali Saleh is determined to fight off the opposition and conquer the seat that is rightfully his.

At the head of the powerful and well trained Republican Guards, Ahmed Saleh is a powerful player on Yemen’s political scene. He has actually deployed his troops throughout the Capital in a bid to ward off all potential challenger to his authority.

Aided by his cousins and uncle who occupy key posts within the government, President Saleh’s eldest son is holding the country hostage.

Status Quo

Although the Constitution stipulates that the Vice President is to assume the executive duties of the President in case the latter is incapacitated, Ahmed Saleh has taken over the Presidential Palace, from where he now operates and runs the affairs of the country.

And if it is Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansoor Hadi who is internationally recognized as the legal ruling entity, he enjoys no power what so ever…

Very much his father’s son, Ahmed Ali wants to lead Yemen, the country he sees as his legitimate inheritance.

It has been reported that VP Hadi has been forced to work from his home or an office at the defense Ministry as he is not allowed within the Presidential compound.

Militants in Yemen are calling for the immediate creation of a transitional committee in order to lead the country towards its next presidential elections. “We will continue to demonstrate until our demands are met” said one of the pro-democracy activists.

Abdel-Karim al-Eriani, the President top political adviser admitted at a party meeting that it would be preferable to discuss the situation with the Opposition. He was automatically shut down by the Regime hard liners and the President’s immediate family. And indeed, those closest to Saleh enjoy much power and financial rewards; they have too much to lose by seeing leave.

According to Abdullah Awabal, a senior opposition leader, al-Eriani would have met with him informally, telling him that more time was needed to overcome “obstacles” within the ruling party.

International Pressure

Since President Saleh has been transported to Saudi Arabia to receive medical treatments, the US alongside the EU and the GCC countries have been pushing for a transition of power in line with the Yemeni Constitution. However, VP Hadi is refusing to write off President Saleh just yet, saying that he is to return to Yemen in the coming days.

Despite the many reports of ill health, Yemen is claiming that President Saleh’s return is imminent and that he will be able to resume his functions. “The information on the president’s health coming to the top leadership, particularly to Ahmed Ali, are reassuring, and the coming days will bring happy surprises for Saleh’s supporters,” said Yasser al-Yamani, a senior ruling party official and deputy governor of Sana’a.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made clear that the US wanted a peaceful resolution of the Yemeni crisis, stressing that an escalation of violence would be counter-productive and could destabilize the entire region.

Although fearful of an escalation of violence, the Saudis are still reluctant to abandon President Saleh, saying that they will not interfere if the latter decided to return to Yemen. King Abdullah is trying to convince the ruling party to agree to the terms of the latest GCC proposal, which would guarantee Saleh and his family immunity from prosecution.

Fear of Further Violence

A high military ranking officer said when talking of Ahmed Saleh: “ He has brought more tanks and troops to positions in the capital’s Hassaba district near the home of the tribesmen’s leader, Sheik Sadeeq al-Ahmar. The president’s son is following a policy of escalation, as if to say he is the legitimate heir of his father.”

With a shaky truce between the government and Sheikh Sadeeq al-Ahmar, things could turn sour at any given moment, engulfing the nation into a never-ending tribal conflict.

And if so far the Saudi Defense Minister has managed to convince the tribes that a cease fire was preferable, his words might fall into deaf ears if Ahmed Saleh continues to taunt them.

Meantime on the southern part of the country, the US is conducting airstrikes against so called al-Qaeda targets, using the power vacuum to conduct illegal and unauthorized intrusions within Yemeni airspace.

Armed clashes have been also reported in Taiz, Yemen second largest city where it is believed the tribes have taken over.