Archive: yemen

1st October 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
The killing of Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen raises questions about its likely impact on the country's politics – in particular, whether it will hasten or delay President Saleh's departure. Internationally, Saleh has tried to present himself as a lone bulwark resisting al-Qaeda and uses it as an… Read more
23rd September 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
UPDATED  President Saleh, who had been receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia since he was badly injured in an assassination attempt last June,arrived in Sanaa suddenly on Friday morning amid celebratory gunfire from his supporters. The situation in Yemen has deteriorated markedly during the last week… Read more
6th September 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
Efforts to resolve the political crisis in Yemen are now focusing on a transition plan proposed by the United Nations rather than the earlier plan put forward by the Gulf Cooperation Council. AFP reports that President Saleh's party, the General People's Congress, has agreed to discuss the UN plan… Read more
1st September 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
Just over a month ago I noted that the Bell Pottinger, one of Britain's leading public relations firms, had been hired by President Saleh's regime in Yemen and was working for "an unnamed special entity" set up by the government in Sana'a. Research by the Bureau for Investigative Journalism has now… Read more
31st August 2011
By: Brian Whitaker
The political situation in Yemen remains as confused as ever – which is why I have avoided writing about it for some time. However, there are now a few signs of movement. In a speech to mark the end of Ramadan, President Saleh (who is still in Saudi Arabia after being injured in a bomb attack last… Read more
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