Yemeni President Saleh in 'Good Health,' Saudi Minister Says

July 5, 2011

by Sarah Abdullah

July 5 (Bloomberg) -- Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh is said to be in "good health" now, following an attack on the presidential mosque in Sana'a early last month, the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, said.

"I have heard that President Saleh is in good health and is going to be launching a news conference soon to speak about his condition," he said. "As for the unrest in Yemen, we are making substantial progress with the latest proposals agreed upon," he said at a press conference in Jeddah today, without identifying the specific proposals.

The Saudi Foreign Minister was speaking alongside U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague, who is visiting the kingdom to strengthen relations and to discuss the unrest in Libya, Syria, and Yemen. The Saudis have led a Gulf Cooperation Council effort in Yemen to negotiate Saleh's exit and a transfer of power.

"Our objective is to assist Saudi Arabia in countering terror threats and to support a stable future for the people of Yemen and in assisting with the GCC initiative," Hague said.