Yemens Leader Prepares To Leave Power

Nodin

Agreement is close on a transfer of power from Yemen's veteran President, Ali Abdullah Saleh, a government minister says.
After six weeks of protests, Mr Saleh has said he is willing to step down this year.
But the demonstrators want him to go immediately.
This is the first time the government has confirmed that President Saleh is negotiating the terms of his departure, observers say.
They add that amid the growing pressure, many see the statement by Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi - a close ally of the president - as a clear sign that Mr Saleh's resignation is now a matter of time.
It comes a day after tens of thousands people attended rival mass rallies in the capital Sanaa.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12870584

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/yemeni-leader-offers-to-hand-over-power-but-only-to-safe-hands/2011/03/25/AF7aO7VB_story.html?hpid=z1

Better than civil war, though it may be just postponing it.

The question now is, who or what replaces him.

gurramok

Perhaps the country will break up like it was a couple of decades ago? Or is it a genuine compromise that will keep the country united?

wes

Yemen seems to have the potential to be a rather big mess, even if they get rid of Saleh. If, I remember correctly, they have both a Shia insurgency, and Al Qaeda linked fighters running around the place. Hopefully, whoever comes after Saleh can sort things out, and not let the country descend into anarchy.

nacho libre

Someone close to General Ali Mohsen is probably being groomed to take over from Saleh. This may be enough to appease the protestors, it will certainly be acceptable to the Americans because they want a strong leader in place to tackle Al Qaeda in Yemen.

jakdelad

i hear gen brig masood al saleem
is gonna be the main man