SANA'A: Following the death of a reported 5 people on Saturday, Yemen's Vice-President Abdu Rabbo Mansoor Hadi reiterated his call for a truce by directly calling Taiz Security Governor Abdullah Qairan. Hadi demanded that all parties immediately halt their offensive to stop further bloodshed. According to local sources 3 members of the same family would have been struck dead by a mortar shell this Saturday, while 2 other civilians were gunned down by snipers. As violence is spiraling out of control in the southern city of Taiz, many politicians amongst whom Yassin Noman, the head of the JMP blamed it on the late formation of a Military Committee. “The vice president must act as a consensus president and be responsible for implementing the operational mechanism without delay,” Noman told the press. According to the power-transfer deal signed on November 23rd in Riyadh by President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the Opposition, Hadi should form a Military Committee where both parties will have equal representation to oversee a grand reform. Since most key military posts are still being held by Saleh's family, it was agreed that a reshuffle and a re-organization of the body was necessary in order to transition Yemen towards a new phase of its history, and move it away from a possible arm conflict. However, since Ahmed Saleh, President Saleh's eldest son and head of the Republican Guards is rumored to be the country's next Defense Minister, one could wonder whether change will really occur or if it is merely a sham destined to appease the angered nation. After 10 days in power, Hadi has failed to form the Committee; more preoccupied say many with pleasing Saleh who despite being an honorary president on paper is very much acting like the head of the state, stirring his VP in one direction or the other. “Hadi has to call Saleh before any decision, he still follows his orders. On the ground nothing has changed at all,” said a member of the Shura Council. Mohamed Qahtan, the spokesperson for the Opposition urged for a speedy implementation of the GCC brokered initiative saying: “The vice president must act as a consensus president and be responsible for implementing the operational mechanism without delay. What is required is to speed up the establishment of a military committee that will oversee an end to fighting and ensure security ahead of restructuring of the army.” BM
