"For us, we will work with all our might that he [Saleh] not return,"
opposition spokesman Mohammed Qahtan said.
Abdul Al Otwani, a Yemeni opposition member in Saudi Arabia, said Saleh
would not be granted immunity from prosecution for the killing of hundreds
of civilians in anti-regime protests over the last few weeks. Al Otwani said
Saleh was expected to remain in exile in Saudi Arabia and joined by most if
not all of his family. Several of Saleh's sons command major elements of the
military.
On June 5, Saudi Arabia confirmed that Saleh, 69, landed in Riyad and
underwent surgery at King Faisal Specialist Hospital for injuries sustained
in a bombing of his palace during the previous day. The Yemeni president was
in contact with Saudi King Abdullah, who ordered medical treatment for the
arriving head of state.
"The king then sent a high-level medical team on board a special
aircraft to Sana'a Saturday [June 4] to conduct medical tests on Saleh and
other high-ranking officials who have suffered injuries," the Saudi royal
court
said.
"The medical team has come to the conclusion that it is appropriate to
complete health care for the president in an advanced medical center.
Agreeing to this, the president has shown his desire to complete treatment
in the kingdom."
Since Saleh's departure, Yemen has been ruled by Vice President Abdul
Rabbo Mansour Hadi. One of Hadi's first acts was to order the military back
to their barracks and allow medical treatment to those injured in the
battles between security forces and rebel tribes.
"His excellency is making a strong recovery and will return home in the
coming days," Hadi was quoted on June 6 as telling the ruling General
People's Congress.
The fate of Saleh's supporters, particularly that of his tribe, remains
uncertain. The sources said Saudi Arabia sought to reach an agreement for a
ceasefire as well as financial incentives for rival forces in Yemen.
"We consider this [Saleh departure] to be the beginning of the end to
this corrupt, brutal and tyrannical regime," Qahtan, the opposition
spokesman, said.
Despite the Saudi efforts, clashes between Islamic insurgents and the
Yemen Army continued on June 6. At least seven soldiers were reported killed
in Zinjibar, a southern coastal city of 20,000 said to be controlled by Al
Qaida.
"It is clear that Saleh will remain in Saudi Arabia, but he is
unpredictable and his supporters could carry on the fight," an opposition
source said.
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