RIYADH/SANAA – Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, not seen in public since an attack on his palace in early June in which he was injured, is well enough to return to Yemen soon and will make a media appearance within the next couple of days.
Speculation about Mr Saleh’s health and the likelihood of his return to Yemen have been rife since he was injured when a bomb went off on June 3rd in a mosque in his presidential palace. He flew to Saudi Arabia for treatment, leaving behind a country on the verge of civil war. A source close to Mr Saleh said he is suffering from burns covering almost 40 per cent of his body.
The president has not been seen in public since the blast, 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 that 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.
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 while the president recovers. – (Reuters)