Joy as Yemenis hope Saleh's Saudi visit is a one-way trip

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, wounded in an attack on his palace, underwent surgery yesterday in Saudi Arabia as Yemenis seeking his overthrow celebrated what they hoped was the end of his 33-year rule.

A Yemeni ruling party official said Mr Saleh would return to the country within days, but with a power struggle already under way and gunfights raging in parts of the country, the threat of further turmoil remained high.

A medical source in Saudi Arabia said Mr Saleh was awake and in good condition after undergoing surgery yesterday to remove shrapnel from his chest.

"People are worried about what will happen after Saleh's departure. They're most worried about a military coup or struggles for power within the army," said Farouq Abdel Salam, a resident of the southern port city of Aden.

Concerns are mounting that Yemen, already on the brink of financial ruin and home to al- Qaeda militants, could become a failed state posing a threat to the world's top oil-exporting region and global security.

Mr Saleh has exasperated former US and Saudi allies, who once saw him as a key partner in combating Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, by repeatedly reneging on a Gulf-brokered deal under which he would quit in return for immunity. Leaving Yemen could make it hard for him to retain power.

Tens of thousands gathered for songs and dancing in a Sanaa square and cattle were roasted in a massive street party to celebrate what many saw as Mr Saleh's permanent departure from Yemen.

Demonstrators have dubbed the protest zone outside Sanaa University "Change Square".

"Our happiness will be complete once we're sure that Saleh won't come back," one resident said.

But gunfire rang out in another part of the capital, serving as a reminder of the past two weeks of fighting between Mr Saleh's forces and the Hashed tribe, led by Sadeq al-Ahmar.

That fighting, which killed more than 200 people, was the bloodiest since protests broke out in January.

In the southern city of Taiz, thousands of people celebrated Mr Saleh's departure with a fireworks display, but Al Jazeera reported several people were wounded in heavy gunfire.

Saudi Arabia, which shares a 950-mile border with Yemen, has led efforts to negotiate a peaceful handover to fractious opposition groups.

But the true seat of power, following Mr Saleh's departure, has yet to be decided. His eldest son, Ahmed, commands the elite Republican Guard and three of his nephews control the country's security and intelligence units.

Mr Saleh has, however, lost the support of powerful general Ali Mohsen, who has sided with protesters and called the president a "madman".Acting president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, seen by analysts as having little power, yesterday met military commanders, including Mr Saleh's sons and nephews and the US ambassador.

He extended an olive branch to the powerful Hashed tribal federation and called for a ceasefire.

The attack on Mr Saleh's palace killed seven and shook the whole government. The prime minister, two deputy prime ministers and the speakers of both parliamentary chambers are also being treated for injuries in Saudi Arabia.

Yemen's military blamed al- Qaeda for the attack.