Yemeni tribes not to join protest
February 27th, 2011 - 10:17 am ICT by IANSSana’a, Feb 27 (IANS) Powerful tribal chiefs council in Yemen’s northern provinces have refuted reports saying they have joined opposition protesters demanding the ouster of the country’s president, Ali Abdullah Saleh.”We maintain loyalty to the government and President Ali Abdullah Saleh,” Xinhua quoted the tribes as saying in a statement.
“We have declared our stance during the past few days in an open meeting with the president,” they said, adding that “We support the legitimate government of Yemen, its unity, stability and security.”
Earlier Saturday, a rally of about 700 demonstrators converged in Amran, some 50 km north of the capital Sana’a, to demand the ouster of Saleh.
The protest was organised by Saleh’s former bodyguard, tribal leader Hussein al-Ahmar, according to a provincial security official.
Al-Ahmar announced his resignation from Saleh’s ruling party during the rally, and called for overthrowing him, the official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Local media reported Saturday that tribal chiefs have joined the opposition.
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- Three top Yemen generals join opposition against President Saleh - Mar 22, 2011
- Yemeni government, armed tribesmen agree on ceasefire - May 29, 2011
- US was told of Yemen leader's vulnerability two years ago: WikiLeaks cable - Apr 08, 2011
- Qatar temporarily closes embassy in Yemen: Report - May 27, 2011
- Protests in Yemen seek president's ouster - Feb 03, 2011
- Saleh's family preventing vice-president from taking full power - Jun 06, 2011
- Protests rattle major cities across Yemen - Apr 14, 2011
- Fresh protests in Yemen - Mar 01, 2011
- 19 killed, hundreds injured in clashes across Yemen - May 12, 2011
Tags: al ahmar, ali abdullah saleh, anonymity, bodyguard, demonstrators, legitimate government, local media, loyalty, northern provinces, ouster, president ali abdullah saleh, protesters, resignation, ruling party, security official, tribal chiefs, tribal leader, tribes, xinhua, yemen