Yemen’s political crisis began in February with protests by largely peaceful crowds calling for Saleh’s ouster after nearly 33 years in power. A crackdown has killed at least 167 people, according to Human Rights Watch.
Saleh has three times retracted from signing a deal put forward by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council that calls for him to step down and hand power to his vice president. In return, Saleh would get immunity from any prosecution.
Yemen’s political turmoil is a potential source of instability for neighboring Saudi Arabia, a key oil producer.
For the US and Europe, the main concern is the political strife could open space for Al-Qaeda’s Yemeni offshoot to operate. The group, which has found refuge in Yemen’s mountainous hinterlands, has been behind several nearly successful strikes on US targets.
The militants seized a provincial capital and now are operating openly in the lawless south, training with live ammunition and controlling roads with checkpoints.
Washington considered Saleh an essential partner in battling Al-Qaeda and had given his government millions of dollars in military aid, but has been pressing for him to step down to spare the country further bloodshed.
