Yemen's Opposition to Meet in Saudi to Discuss the Current Situation in the Country

By Fatik Al-Rodaini

Sana'a, Apr 17, 2011- Representatives from Yemen's opposition coalition, the Joint Meeting Parties, JMP, would meet on Sunday in Saudi Arabia with the Gulf Cooperation Council's ministers who will give Yemen's opposition some details about the GCC initiative.

A delegation from the opposition coalition will be headed by Mohamed Ba Sendio, the rotating president of the coalition, Yasin Saeed Noman, Security General of Isalah Party, Abdul Wahab Al-Alnsi, Security Genral of Nasserite Party, Sultan Al-Twani, and a member of dialogue committee, Sekher Al-Wajeh.

According to Saudi Press Agency, that the meeting will discuss the latest developments in Yemen in light of the agreement reached by GCC countries in the 31st exceptional meeting of the Ministerial Council held on 3 April 2011 and the 32nd exceptional session held on 10 April 2011 on making contacts with the Yemeni government and opposition through the GCC initiative.

Yesterday, the president of the opposition coalition, Yasin Saeed Noman, told Aljazeera Satellite Channel that the delegation will brief the Gulf ministers on what is happening in Yemen.

Noman accused Saleh's ruling party of misleading our brothers in the Arabian Gulf and that was seen as a roadblock to explain the things here as they are being done as the situations are gravely deteriorating.

The GCC states previously announced an initiative calling on Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down. The GCC later amended the initiative to call for Saleh to transfer his powers to his deputy, raising concerns among the anti-regime protesters and the opposition that the president might remain in office, even if only as a figurehead.