SANA'A: Only two days after Vice-President Abdu Rabo Mansour Hadi kicked off his presidential campaign, posing as the only official candidate, violence and calls for boycott are already flaring up across the country, threatening the completion of the last stage of an already uncertain power-transfer. After a year of protest and many bloody battles in between revolutionaries and regime loyalists, western powers and neighboring Arab countries decided to intervene by forcing President Ali Abdullah Saleh to agree to a GCC brokered initiative under the careful eyes of the Saudi King. Under the terms of the agreement, Saleh agreed to depart from power against immunity from future prosecution and to recall his armed forces from the streets of the capital, Sana'a and other cities which were under heavy militarization. The proposal also provisioned for the departure from key military posts of President Saleh's nephews and brother, guaranteeing a safe transition away from a possible “coup”. However, two weeks away from the elections as VP Hadi confirmed himself, nothing actually has changed, save from the departure of Saleh for New York for medical reasons. The military and the armed militias loyal to the Opposition are still present in the northern districts of the capital as Sheikh Sadeeq al-Ahmar and defected General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar continue to defend their positions, and Saleh's family members are until now refusing to leave their posts, arguing that they will not bow to external pressure and that they will continue to defend the country against malevolent forces. A survey conducted by Bikyamasr.com revealed that despite much publicity and a widespread political campaign, Yemenis do not support the elections as they feel the popular will was dismissed in favor of politicians wishing to assert their hold over Yemen. With anger gaining momentum in Yemen, what should have been the crowning of the Revolution is now on shaky ground; the much awaited elections might not lead to the needed stability the West and Arab countries are looking for. Abdel Malek al-Houthi, the powerful tribal leader of the Shia rebel group called for a boycott of the elections in his northern territories declaring to the press that since the central government refused to fairly represent all political factions, his group would continue to refute its authority, seeking to establish a Caliphate over Yemen not a Republic. In Hadramaut, an eastern province of Yemen, tribal leaders are also calling for a boycott. Al-Harak, the southern secessionist movement warned that its men would disrupt the elections as it said Hadi is not a legitimate candidate. Moreover, thousands of revolutionaries from the Youth Movement are calling for additional candidate to be allowed to enter the presidential race, warning that they would prevent people from casting their vote by any means necessary if their call remained unanswered. More worryingly yet, reports of armed clashes in the southern province of Abyan and the northern territories are putting serious question marks over whether the elections will indeed take place on February 21. And as politicians are now pointing out President Saleh's return to Yemen could send people over the edge. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/vp1cY Tags: Elections, featured, Hadi, Saleh Section: Features, Latest News, Yemen
