Yemenis celebrate as wounded leader departs for Saudi Arabia

Behind the festive atmosphere, many feared Ali Abdullah Saleh, a masterful political survivor who has held power for nearly 33 years, will yet return – or leave the country in ruins if he can’t. Hanging in the balance was a country that even before the latest tumult was beset by deep poverty, malnutrition, tribal conflict and violence by an active al-Qaida franchise with international reach.

President Saleh, who was taken overnight to a military hospital in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, underwent successful surgery on his chest to remove jagged pieces of wood that splintered from a mosque pulpit when his compound was hit by rockets on Friday, said medical officials and a Yemeni diplomat.

The stunning rocket attack, which the government first blamed on tribal fighters who in recent weeks turned against the president and later on al-Qaida, killed 11 bodyguards and seriously injured five senior officials.

While Saleh is away, Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi is acting as temporary head of state, said the deputy information minister, Abdu al-Janadi. The minister said the president would return to assume his duties after his treatment, though experts on Yemeni affairs questioned whether a return is possible in the face of so much opposition.

Mr Al-Janadi said: “Saleh will come back. Saleh is in good health, and he may give up the authority one day but it has to be in a constitutional way.

“Calm has returned. Coups have failed. We are not in Libya, and Saleh is not calling for civil war.”

The president’s sudden departure raised many questions, including whether his Saudi hosts would bless his return. The Saudis have backed Saleh and co-operated over the years in confronting al-Qaida and other threats, but they are now among those pressing him to give up power as part of a negotiated deal.

Saudi Arabia has watched with concern the anti-government protests that have spread to other neighbouring countries like Bahrain and is eager to contain the unrest on its doorstep.

The president’s absence raised the spectre of an even more violent power struggle between the armed tribesmen who have joined the opposition and loyalist military forces under the command of Saleh’s son and other close relatives. Street battles between the sides have already pushed the political crisis to the brink of civil war.

In an attempt to cool the situation, the vice president offered through mediators to pull government forces back from the neighbourhood of the capital where they’ve battled fighters loyal to Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar, who heads Yemen’s most powerful tribal confederation, the Hashid.

Al-Ahmar said in a statement he agreed to the deal, which requires his forces to leave the streets and government ministries they seized, starting Monday.

In the streets of the capital joyful crowds celebrated what they hoped would be Saleh’s permanent exit.

Crowds danced, sang and slaughtered a few cows in what demonstrators have dubbed Change Square, the epicentre of the nationwide protest movement since mid-February calling for Saleh to step down immediately. Some uniformed soldiers joined those dancing and singing patriotic songs and were hoisted on the shoulders of the crowd. Many in the jubilant crowd waved Yemeni flags, joyfully whistling and flashing the V for victory signs.

“Who would have believed that this people could have removed the tyrant?” said 30-year-old teacher Moufid al-Mutairi.

Women in black veils joined demonstrators carrying banners that hailed Saleh’s departure. One read: “The oppressor is gone, but the people stay.”

But there were also fears that the president would attempt a comeback or try to transfer power to his son Ahmed, who heads the Republican Guard and remains in Yemen.