A report tonight from the Associated Press is quoting an unnamed official in the Yemeni ruling party as saying that President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the long-time dictator of the nation, is no longer willing to leave power and plans to “resist with all his remaining force.”
Saleh signed a deal to leave power in late November, while keeping his title. The Yemeni state media, however, still refers to him as the leader of the nation and Major General Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the US-backed strongman who was supposed to replace Saleh, remains his deputy.
The opposition had been accusing Saleh of trying to foil the deal recently, and the new comments from the ruling party appear to confirm that. Protesters continue to rally across the nation demanding free elections and Saleh’s ouster.
The power transfer deal which was signed was condemned by many of the protesters at any rate, since it guaranteed the installation of Hadi in a single-candidate election process as the new president, and did nothing to change the legal system which has allowed Saleh unchecked power for 33 years.