Sana’a/Aden - Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh appeared on television on Thursday for the first time since an assassination attempt a month ago and said he was ready to share power within the constitution's framework.
Saleh, who is recovering in Riyadh after the June 3 bomb attack on his presidential compound, showed signs of severe burns to his face which was covered with white stubble instead of his trademark thick moustache.
He had heavily bandaged arms and hands in the appearance on Yemen TV in a pre-recorded interview.
“We are not against participation, we are for participation with all political powers, whether they are in opposition or ruling, but in the light of a programme which the people agree upon,” Saleh said.
Saleh, who flew to neighbouring Saudi Arabia for treatment after the attack, has hung on to power despite international pressure and six months of protests against his 33-year rule.
In a note of defiance, Saleh said he would “confront a challenge with a challenge”, a phrase he has often used in speeches.
Speculation about Saleh's health and the likelihood of his return to Yemen has been rife in the past five weeks. “I had eight successful operations and suffered from burns,” he said, thanking Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah for hosting him.
“The speech was normal, it did not offer anything new. It's the same speech we're used to from Saleh,” an activist said in Sana’a, which erupted in firework displays and celebratory gunfire after the speech. One protester was killed and tens injured as a result, a medical source told reporters.
In the city of Ibb, south of Sana’a, armed men loyal to the ruling party attacked protesters, killing two and injuring 10, a medical source told Reuters.
Opposition official Sultan al-Atwani said Saleh's speech did little more than clarify rumours about his injuries: “It's clear that his state is not great. As for his speech, it wasn't anything new and the participation of which he spoke will not come until a national dialogue after a transfer of power.”
Earlier on Thursday, an opposition leader said Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who has taken the helm during Saleh's absence, had approached the opposition with a new plan to end the country's political stalemate.
Under this plan, Saleh would have stayed in power longer than outlined in a Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) initiative which the president backed out of three times at the last minute, leaving the country in political limbo.
Under the GCC deal, Saleh would have resigned 30 days after signing up to it.
“The essence of these ideas is to begin the transitional period by forming one national government led by the opposition and changing the date of presidential elections from 60 days to a longer period, without transferring power completely to the vice president,” said the opposition leader, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity after the meeting with Hadi.
The new plan was a step backwards for the opposition, which had hoped Saleh's time was up when he left the country. While veteran leaders in Egypt and Tunisia have bowed to popular demands they quit, Saleh has proved a shrewd political survivor. - Reuters