Yemen's Saleh not to transfer power for incapacity: spokesman

SANAA, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is being treated in Riyadh for injuries from a June attack, would not transfer power for the condition of incapacity set by the Yemeni Constitution, a government spokesman said Monday.

"The burn injuries of President Saleh do not mean he is under incapacity, which set by the Yemeni Constitution as a reason to transfer power to his deputy Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi," Abdu al- Janadi, who serves as the deputy information minister, told reporters at a press conference in Sanaa.

"But Vice President Hadi, who was assigned as the acting president by President Saleh before he left for a Saudi military hospital following the assassination attack on his palace in Sanaa on June 3, has all the authorities to lead and direct all military commanders and the government," al-Janadi said.

Al-Janadi also accused defected military commanders of attempting to ignite civil war by supporting opposition tribesmen in the fight against the government troops in the northern province of Sanaa and southern province of Taiz, where on-and-off clashes left hundreds dead from both sides.

The embattled president, who has faced six months of protests demanding an immediate end to his 33-year rule, vowed to return to power and lead a national conciliation dialogue with his opponents soon.

A close aide to Saleh told Xinhua that "doctors treating Saleh' s injuries in the Saudi military hospital could allow him to come back to Sanaa by the end of the first week of August to resume his presidential duties."

Saleh on Sunday delivered a speech, calling opposition to restart the Gulf-mediated dialogue to end the prolonged political crisis.