SANA'A: A spokesperson for the rebel air force troops of al-Dalaimi airbase told Bikyamasr.com that a delegation from the Military Affairs Commission and a representative of President Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi met on Sunday with the defectors' representatives and asked for a chance to resolve the matter peacefully. The government is said to be trying to defuse the rise in tension following an attack on the base on Saturday. General Mohammed Sanhoob, a military adviser to President Hadi said in addressing the defectors, “had the officials understood what you meant by ‘leave' we would have moved swiftly and solved the matter to your satisfaction.” For over a month, troops from al-Dalaimi, an air force base situated adjacent to Sana'a International airport, expressed their desire to oust General Mohamed Saleh al-Ahmar, their commander, whom they accuse of corruption. After weeks of patience, soldiers and officers alike have expressed their frustration towards the deafening silence of the state, warning that “unlike protesters, soldiers know how to make themselves heard.” Staff Brigadier Captain Abdul Ghani Bin Owthal, the defected soldiers' representative told Bikyamasr.com that the Military Affairs Committee was once again trying to avoid dealing with the matter seriously, always deflecting the soldiers' main focus point by invoking “silly excuses.” Owthal strongly advised the Military Committee to bow to popular pressure by appointing a new Commander or men would take matters in their own hands. “We will give you 3 to 10 days to fulfill your task. But you have to understand that we have no more patience to spare and that we will enter our work [all defectors have been prevented so far from returning to the base] places whatever the consequences and that we will hold you accountable in front of our people.” Moreover, troops in Tariq Air Base in Taiz Governorate complained yesterday that the Rear Admiral Mohammed Saleh al-Ahmar, another loyalist of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh detained the troops' salaries based on their participation to the uprising. Rising as one, the base demanded on Saturday that the Commander be deposed and replace by another officer. Soldiers and officers have warned they would march towards the Presidential Palace if the Republican Guards did not immediately release the funds, which are said to be in their possession; this, according to revolutionaries. They directly challenged President Hadi, asking him to stand on the side of Justice. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/GmjoV Tags: Attack, Rebels, Restraint, Yemen Section: Latest News, Yemen
