Archive: yemen

29th July 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
Yemen's political crisis has taken a strange new turn with the hiring of one of Britain's leading public relations firms – ostensibly in an attempt to end the impasse. The company, Bell Pottinger, is working for "an unnamed special entity that has been created within the Yemen government to ensure… Read more
26th June 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
Three weeks have elapsed since President Saleh left Yemen for treatment in Saudi Arabia after being  badly injured  by a bomb explosion in his palace compound. Since then, the situation has been very confused though it's beginning to clear a little. Despite what Yemeni official may say about his "… Read more
5th June 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
On Friday, after hearing of the attack inside Yemen's presidential compound, I posted a tweet which said:  "Send Saleh abroad to be treated for his injuries. Problem solved." That has now come to pass, but I doubt that it's a result of my suggestion on Twitter. It struck me at the time, though,… Read more
29th May 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
President Saleh's position in Yemen was looking extremely precarious on Sunday amid signs that the military is beginning to turn against him. The Associated Press reported that a brigade of the Republican Guard (commanded by Saleh's son, Ahmed) has defected to the opposition. Meanwhile, posts on… Read more
26th May 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
Fighting has resumed in the Yemeni capital this morning. A report in today's Guardian describes the scenes in Sana'a yesterday and Gregory Johnsen has an excellent analysis of events there over the last few days. The US has now ordered non-essential diplomatic staff to leave the country and… Read more
25th May 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
Battles between Yemen's most powerful tribal group and sections of the military have resumed in Sana'a this morning, and tribal fighters appear to control part of the capital, including the interior ministry building. Tom Finn, who is on the spot, reported yesterday's events for the Guardian. Jane… Read more
23rd May 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
Despite intense diplomatic pressure from the Gulf Cooperation Council, the United States and the EU, and despite verbal undertakings that he would finally sign the Yemen "transition" deal, President Saleh battled through Sunday without letting his pen touch the paper. Instead, he brought his own… Read more
22nd May 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
Today is the 21st birthday of the Republic of Yemen, formed when the separate northern and southern states agreed to merge. May 1990 was a brief moment of hope in Yemen's history. Newspapers and new political parties proliferated, unhampered by government restrictions, and shortly afterwards Yemen… Read more
14th May 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
President Saleh came under renewed pressure on Friday to accept the Yemen "transition" plan proposed by the Gulf Cooperation Council. The US and several EU countries have now declared their backing for the plan. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said on Friday: "We call on the parties to sign… Read more
2nd May 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
The Gulf Cooperation Council said on Sunday that it will send its secretary-general, Abdul-Latif al-Zayani, back to Yemen for more talks following the aborted mission on Saturday when he was publicly snubbed by President Saleh. Saleh has been refusing to sign a "transition" agreement negotiated by… Read more