Yemen president says won't extend presidential term

Yemen president says won't extend presidential term

www.reuters.com

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said on Wednesday he will not seek to extend his presidency in a move that would bring an end to a three-decade rule when his current term expires in 2013.

(visit the link for the full news article)


Related News Links:
www.time.com

And - another one bites the dust - in a twist, Yemeni President said that not only would he not be seeking re-election, but he would not be handing the reigns to his son, either.

"No extension, no inheritance, no resetting the clock," Saleh said, speaking ahead of a planned large rally due on Thursday in Sanaa that has been dubbed a "Day of rage."

www.reuters.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Yes, it looks as if Joradania and Yemen reacted, before the heat is on.
But while king Abdullah II sent home the Prime Minister and his government to start immediately with a change, President Saleh only promised the same as Mubarak.

Sultan Al Qassemi puts a grain of salt on this on twitter:

FYI: Yemen's President Ali Abdallah Saleh has been in power for 33 years, he periodically announces that he "won't run for elections again".

Nevertheless it shows, that the leaders in the region are thinking a lot about the(ir) future...

With the Syrians watching closely as well...

Link

Ali Abdullah Saleh is number 2 in Time's list of Top 10 Autocrats In Trouble.
Interesting detail:

Earlier this year, Yemen's parliament gave preliminary approval to a measure that would allow Saleh, who has ruled for more than three decades, to stay in power past his constitutional mandate.

Wonder, what made him change his mind so quickly...
Maybe he had a nightmare lately.

Link to TIME

reply to post by Siddharta


Yes, one does wonder... there must be some sort of compensation (that was tolerable for the Pres.) coming from somewhere. Nobody gives up that type of power, willingly. Not when you've had it that long.

I think that these leaders see the writing on the wall and are giving back the power as they sneak out the back door with the people's money. Even Bush said this week he won't be involved in politics at all, and why should he he's filthy rich and loving life. The problem is the people have been robbed and the rats will scurry when the lights come on.

2 years is more than enough time to make sure whoever gets elected next is in your pocket.