Officials: Yemen's wounded president bedridden

By AHMED AL-HAJ

The Associated Press

July 2, 2011

SANAA, Yemen — Senior Yemeni officials say President Ali Abdullah Saleh has had "very limited" access to the outside world since he was flown to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment.

Facing months of protests calling for his resignation, Saleh suffered serious burns and other wounds in a June 3 attack on his palace in the Yemeni capital. Little information about his condition has been released.

A Riyadh-based Yemeni official said Saturday that only relatives and Saleh's top adviser have been permitted to visit him.

Another government official in Sanaa says Saleh has been "unable to leave his bed" and has "severe and extensive burns."

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.