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Yemen's President Criticizes Former Lawmakers Who Joined Opposition

   VOA News  April 23, 2011
   Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh adjusts his glasses during a rally
   in Sana'a, April 22, 2011

Photo: Reuters

   Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh adjusts his glasses during a rally
   in Sana'a, April 22, 2011

   Yemen's president accused his opponents of trying to drag the country
   into civil war on Saturday while shop and business owners kept their
   doors closed to protest the president's rule.
   President Ali Abdullah Saleh called former ruling party members who had
   resigned and joined the opposition "symbols of corruption."
   In a speech to armed forces academy students, he also accused opponents
   of trying to mimic the situations in Egypt and Tunisia, where
   anti-government unrest led to the presidents' resignations.
   Meanwhile, many Yemenis across the country observed a general strike on
   Saturday. Some gathered for peaceful protests.
   On Friday, thousands of opposition activists rallied against Mr. Saleh,
   who remained vague as to whether he would accept a Gulf Cooperation
   Council (GCC) proposal that included his resignation.
   The plan, which was presented earlier in the week, calls for him to
   transfer power to a deputy, who would then form a unity government
   within two months. Ruling party members would control half of the unity
   government, 40 percent would be held by an opposition coalition, with
   the rest made up of unaffiliated parties.
   On Saturday, a Yemeni Deputy Minister of Information Abdu al-Janadi
   said the country will reach a solution to the current political crisis
   that satisfies the parties involved.
   At a news conference in Sana'a, he also repeated President Saleh's
   assertion that he welcomes initiatives from the GCC but must deal with
   the provisions within the framework of Yemen's constitution.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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