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Yemeni Leader's Health Described as 'Bad'

   VOA News  June 11, 2011
   Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh waves to his supporters, not
   pictured, during a rally in Sana'a, April 15, 2011

Photo: AP

   Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh waves to his supporters, not
   pictured, during a rally in Sana'a, April 15, 2011

   There are new reports that the health problems of Yemeni President Ali
   Abdullah Saleh are so significant that he is not likely to return
   anytime soon from his hospital stay in Saudi Arabia.
   The Yemeni leader left his homeland a week ago after sustaining burns
   over 40 percent of his body in a bomb attack on the presidential
   compound. On Saturday, one Yemeni expatriate in Riyadh described
   Saleh's health as "bad," saying that he is suffering lung and
   respiration problems.
   An analyst in the Yemeni seaside port of Aden noted that Saleh
   "narrowly underwent" successful surgery for his injuries, but surmised
   that it will take him months to recover.
   Tens of thousands of Saleh's government loyalists in Yemen on Friday
   cheered the news that he was out of intensive care, but a separate
   group of demonstrators in the capital of Sana'a called for the end to
   his 33-year reign.
   At least 200 protesters demanding his ouster have been killed in Yemeni
   demonstrations in the last four months. Saleh has refused to sign a
   deal brokered by neighboring countries calling for him to quit in
   return for immunity against prosecution. Some analysts in the region
   have said they do not believe the Saudis will allow Saleh to return to
   Yemen, although the Saudi government has publicly said that he is free
   to do so.
   At the anti-government rally Friday, some demonstrators urged Vice
   President Abd al-Rab Mansur Hadi to set up a transitional government
   council. The French news agency, AFP, reported that opponents have
   agreed on seven potential candidates.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP.
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References

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