SANA'A: As the international community was holding its breath, expecting Yemen's President Ali Abdallah Saleh to bow to political pressure and eventually sign over the executive powers to his Vice-President on Monday, the opposition announced that Saleh had categorically refused to sign the GCC brokered proposal. Although Saleh promised on many occasions that he was determined to sign, admitting that the country needed a fresh direction, he once again backed down at the last minute. Since February, it is the fourth time that the ailing autocrat had failed to honor his declarations. On Sunday, VP Hadi told the Saba news agency that the regime and the opposition were close to a deal as 85 percent of the issues had been solved, stressing that he was very well of the urgency of a deal since Yemen was truly on its last leg, both economically and socially. Sources within the opposition revealed that Saleh had come up with new ridiculous demands, aimed at angering the protesters and ignite they believe an armed conflict. “Saleh wants to preserve all his powers until the election of a new president and that is rejected by the opposition and because of this the UN envoy's mission is going to fail,” said a senior figure in the opposition who declined to be identified. Furthermore, Saleh would want to retain control over the army by allowing his sons and nephews to continue to head strategic positions, ensuring the loyalty of the Central Security Forces, the Republican Guards, the Presidential Guards, the National Security Agency and the Air Force. UN envoy Benomar who is still in Sana'a will it seem once again go back empty-handed after a week of intense talks. As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is announcing a modernization of its troops and the study of new defense policy in regards to the new regional threats, Saudi officials are warily looking on development in Yemen. The collapse in security has allowed in recent months several armed groups to thrive in total impunity. Al-Houthi, a Shia group which would like to return to the ancestral rule of the Imams has been sporadically clashing with Yemen armed forces near the southern Saudi borders, prompting concerns in Riyadh. In the south, al-Qaeda has been spreading its network of influence throughout the province of Abyan, forcing the government to open up a new military front. With little hope left of a peaceful resolution to Yemen's 10-month-old revolution and a worsening in living conditions, Yemen is truly standing on the edge of a precipice. BM
