Editorial: Saleh’s tactics Sunday, 25 December 2011 03:24

AS THE uprising in Syria takes all the attention of the media and  the Arab and international leaders, Yemen is getting pushed  to the sidelines – at least in the response of the international  community and the urgency and seriousness with which they view the  popular protests against the regime of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

It’s precisely this lack of interest – or lackluster attitude – that has  prompted Ali Saleh to make umpteen somersaults while executing the  promised transition of power.

One such delaying tactic, or confusing one, came yesterday when the  president announced that he will go the US. “I will go to the United  States. Not for treatment, because I’m fine, but to get away from attention,

cameras, and allow the unity government to prepare properly for elections,” he said, while talking to reporters after his forces killed nine people in firing at protesters who demanded his trial for killing demonstrators

over 11 months of protests. The opposition hasn’t demanded  that he leave for the US and what they want is his ouster, trial and a complete ban on his inner circle from holding power. All these can be achieved whether the president is in Sanaa or Washington, and  what the international community is looking for is his willingness to  talk to the opposition and bring his embattled country back to peace

and normalcy.

The president had agreed last month to a deal giving him immunity  from prosecution in exchange for handing power to his deputy, who is to  work with an interim government including opposition parties before  a February presidential election. That plan, prepared by the Gulf

Cooperation Council and along the terms of a UN Security Council  resolution, was seen as a significant step towards achieving peace.

But the Gulf-brokered deal is yet to bring peace to the streets because  large sections of the opposition don’t recognise it and will settle for  nothing less than the ouster of Ali Saleh and his trial. Even as the

deal appears shaky and lacks legitimacy in the eyes of many Yemenis,

the president has been half-hearted in implementing it. He didn’t  say yesterday when he would be leaving for the US and added he will

return because he won’t leave his people and comrades “who have

been steadfast for 11 months.” And more confusing was his statement:

“I’ll withdraw from political work and go into the street as part of the

opposition.”

The Yemeni uprising has continued for almost a year and the huge  turnout at the anti-government march yesterday shows the opposition

is determined and enjoys popular support. If the country is to be saved

from further bloodshed and chaos, the Arab and international community

need to get a lot more serious.