Yemen’s Interim Ruler Refuses Transition Talks

Opposition Eyes 'Interim Council' Failing New Talks

Opposition leaders have repeatedly threatened to unilaterally form an “interim council” that would act as a rival government in the wake of President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s fleeing to Saudi Arabia. They insisted that the only alternative was a new GCC-mediated transition initiative.

Despite this, GCC officials report, interim ruler Major General Hadi has repeatedly refused to talk to the GCC about a new round of talks. Officials say that Hadi insisted he was too busy with the “security situation in the province.”

Yemen’s army has been fighting with various factions over the control of cities, and is still dealing with a very tentative ceasefire with tribesmen who just weeks ago looked prepared to chase the entire government out of the capital.

The Saleh-Hadi government insists it is simply waiting for Saleh to return, despite reports he is in extremely poor health after an assassination attempt led to emergency surgery last weekend. GCC officials have sought an orderly transition deal to avoid the nation fracturing and threatening the stability of their own regimes. The Obama Administration has expressed a preference for Maj. Gen. Hadi to simply assume control over the nation.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.