Saleh is ready to return but doubts linger over future

Wounded Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, not seen in public since an attack on his palace in early June, is well enough to soon return to Yemen and will make a media appearance within the next two days.

Speculation about Mr Saleh's health and the likelihood of his return to Yemen have been rife since he was hurt when a bomb went off on 3 June in a mosque in his presidential palace. He was flown to Saudi Arabia for treatment, leaving behind a country on the verge of civil war.

The president has not been seen in public since the explosion, which killed several people and wounded the prime minister, two deputy prime ministers and the speakers of both parliamentary chambers.

It is not clear what role if any Mr Saleh, under pressure to step down, sees for himself in ruling Yemen.

"He will appear within the next 48 hours despite our fear that the burns on his features and on different parts of his body will be an obstacle given that his appearance will not be as the media expects it," said Ahmed al-Sufi, the president's media secretary yesterday. Yemen has been rocked by months of protests against Mr Saleh's three decades of rule. Before that he was grappling with a rebellion in the north, separatist violence in the south and a resurgent wing of al-Qaeda.

Mr Sufi said Mr Saleh was in good health and continued to direct Yemeni affairs from abroad. Mr Saleh's deputy Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has been at the helm as the president recovers.

A source close to the president said the president's condition was good enough to allow him to travel he added: "The bomb in the mosque was in close proximity to the president when it went off. He was really lucky to get out."

The source, who was with Mr Saleh during the attack, said he is suffering from burns but they cover less than 40 per cent of his body.

Yemeni officials have previously accused an opposition tribal coalition of shelling the palace, which it denied.

Last week, a Western diplomat said Mr Saleh was unlikely to return home soon, as Saudi Arabia and the United States continue to push for a transfer of power under an existing Gulf Arab proposal for a transition in Yemen.

They fear a power vacuum and tribal warfare will be exploited by al-Qaeda to launch attacks in the Gulf and beyond. Tens of thousands marched in the capital Sanaa yesterday to demand Mr Saleh leave power.

"The position of the United States and Saudi Arabia is against our revolution. We want a transition council to be set up and for the remainders of the regime to leave," said protester Imar Naji, referring to Mr Saleh's sons who hold military and security posts.

A source said on his return Mr Saleh has two proposals. "The first is to shift all power to the parliament and become just a figurehead.

The second will be to let a coalition government be formed and then hold early presidential elections and leave quietly."