Leaders close to Saleh distance themselves from him

According to sources in the General People’s Congress, headed by ousted Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s party, five prominent leaders in the party who are close to Saleh distanced themselves from him, left Sanaa and are ready to leave the country.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that “these five leaders were opposed to Saleh’s actions in Yemen”. They refused to disclose the names of the leaders or where they plan to go “in order to preserve their safety and security”.

They added that “they disagreed with Saleh with regards to his support of and alliance with the Houthis and his stance against the Gulf countries that are providing support for the country. They also believe that his actions are destroying Yemen and leading it to civil war.”

It was not possible to receive an immediate comment or response from the General People’s Congress party regarding the split.

The Houthis seized control of the capital city Sanaa in September and later imposed house arrest on President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi in his home in the capital. However, Saleh escaped and fled to Aden in the south before leaving the city last month and going to Riyadh, Saudi, following the escalation of violence in Yemen.

The Saudi-led “Operation Storm of Resolve” alliance’s aircrafts have continuously bombed Houthi sites since 26 March. This came in response to President Hadi’s call for military intervention in order to “protect Yemen and its people from the violence of the Houthi militias.”