Saleh flies to US for medical treatment

YEMENI president Ali Abdullah Saleh headed to the United States yesterday – via the UK – for medical treatment, the latest stage in an effort to distance him from his country’s political affairs to help ease a transition from his rule.

Ahmed al-Soufi, the press officer for the presidency, said Saleh, 69, had arrived in London and would then fly on to New York for medical treatment for wounds suffered in a June assassination attempt in the Yemeni capital.

Saleh left Yemen for neighbouring Oman a week ago, planning to head to the US, after weeks of talks with US representatives over where he might settle.

Washington has been trying to get Saleh to leave his homeland, but it does not want him to remain permanently in America, fearing it would be seen as harbouring a leader considered by his people to have blood on his hands.

In London, a Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed that Saleh’s plane was scheduled to land at a British commercial airport “to refuel en route to the United States”.

She said Saleh and those accompanying him were not going to enter the UK.

Saleh travelled on a chartered Emirates plane with a private doctor, translator, eight armed guards and several family members.

In November, Saleh handed over his powers to his vice-president and promised to step down completely after months of protests by millions across Yemen demanding an end to his nearly 33-year rule. A national unity government was formed between his ruling party and the opposition.

But opponents claim he has continued to interfere in the work of a unity government through his allies and relatives in key posts – particularly his son and nephew, who command Yemen’s most elite and powerful military units. As a result, the past two months have seen persistent violence, power struggles and delays in democratic reforms.