Yemen: President Saleh Delays Resignation With US and EU Complicity

Sanaa, Nov 9 (Prensa Latina) On January 27, civilian opponents in Yemen started street demonstrations to demand the resignation of President Saleh. The president has refused to resign, managing to delay the implementation of an initiative of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with the connivance of the U.S. and Europe.

Saleh authorized Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to negotiate the transition with the opposition based on the GCC plan, which would create an interim cabinet that would prepare elections.

Hadi returned on Monday from Washington after allegedly undergoing routine annual medical examinations, but analysts and opposition leaders believe that his trip sought to mitigate the pressure on Saleh to step down, at least with the urgency required by the GCC.

In a speech on Saturday in Sanaa on the eve of the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Adha, the head of state reiterated that he will end his 33 years in office based on the initiative of the GCC, but reproached the "malicious or na�ve" opposition.