Speculation abounds on the plans of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, released from hospital following June's assassination attempt, writes Nasser Arrabyee Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh is now in a royal residence after he left the military hospital in the Saudi capital Riyadh where he was recovering from injuries sustaining during an assassination attempt 3 June. The big question is: Will Saleh return to Yemen or not? If yes, what he will do; if not, how can the seven-month crisis plaguing the country be resolved? The solution is still in his hands. The international community insists on a peaceful, constitutional, and orderly transition of power. President Saleh is essential to that kind of transition. While Saleh could declare his stepping down, transferring power to his deputy from Saudi Arabia or anywhere, apparently this would only please the opposition. Supporters of Saleh, increasing forces that cannot be ignored, want him back; only then, they say, can the parties reach a compromise on early elections or whether will Saleh finish his term through September 2013. American and Saudi officials are now leading international and regional efforts to convince President Saleh to transfer the power to his deputy, Abdu Rabu Mansor Hadi. They avoid talk about Saleh's return. Yemeni officials denied on Monday press reports that American officials had pressured Saleh not to return to Yemen. "This is not true, and President Saleh will return," said Tarek Al-Shami, the spokesman of Saleh's ruling party. American officials appear concerned that Saleh's return that might worsen the situation. "President Saleh can declare the transition from anyplace," US Ambassador to Yemen Gerald Feierstein told Al-Ahram Weekly 5 August. The Yemeni opposition ignored the release of Saleh from hospital and set 17 August as the date for a meeting in which they will discuss the formation of a "national council" to coordinate and lead the "forces of the revolution". "Saleh's release from hospital does not matter, we do not care about it," said Mohammed Qahtan, spokesman of the opposition coalition. Protesters in the streets, affected by the spectacle of Mubarak's trial, began to demand that Saleh face judicial trial. Meanwhile, clashes continue. The capital Sanaa witnessed more than four hours of clashes between security forces and opposition tribesmen loyal to Al-Ahmar family who mainly lead the anti-Saleh protests. The clashes, which resulted in no casualties, came after Al-Ahmar fighters seized two military vehicles patrolling the area of Al-Hasaba on Thursday, 4 August. Some young protesters joined Al-Ahmar fighters who control Al-Hasaba neighborhood in the north of the capital. Reinforcement troops and armored vehicles were deployed immediately. Vice President Abdu Rabu Mansor Hadi played an essential role in stopping the latest clashes of Friday, 5 August. Armed confrontations take place almost every day in Arhab, north of the capital, and Nehm, east of the capital, and in Taiz province to the south, between opposition tribesmen and government troops. The opposition Islamist party, Islah, and defecting General Ali Muhsen are accused by the government of being behind the confrontations. Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al Querbi has said that dialogue is the only way out of the current crisis. "It is impossible for this crisis to continue forever," said the minister in televised statements Saturday. "Those who think of the military solution are mistaken," the minister added. Everything is divided in Yemen, he said -- the politicians, tribes and the army. All Yemeni parties and regional and international players still support a US-backed and Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council deal on the transition of power tabled in April. After he was released from hospital, President Saleh discussed with political advisor Abdul Kareem Al-Eryani in Riyadh how to activate the deal. Sources said it was slightly modified to take into consideration the failed assassination attempt against Saleh and his senior asides. Meanwhile, UN envoy Jamal Bin Omar suggested a mechanism for implementing the deal after meetings with all Yemeni parties in four visits made recently to Yemen. The fifth visit of Bin Omar to Yemen is expected at the beginning of September.
