Yemenis march favoring National Council

Yemeni army soldiers participate with anti-regime protestors calling for the resignation of Yemen's Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa, Yemen, Thursday, August 18, 2011

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/194632.html

Thousands of Yemenis across the country have marched in celebration of the recently formed National Council that will lead toward the removal of Ali Abdullah Saleh's regime.

People in the city of Taizz and the Yemeni capital of Sana'a on Thursday chanted slogans in support of the revolution and the 143-member National Council, Press TV reported.

The formation of the Council was announced late Wednesday, a day after Saleh claimed he would soon return to Yemen.

Some 800 representatives of different opposition groups had elected the members of the Council.

The Council includes members of the parliamentary opposition umbrella of the Common Forum, young protesters, and the north-based Shia minority, which has for long been repressed by Saleh's regime and Saudi Arabian forces.

Saleh is currently in Saudi Arabia, were he has been receiving medical treatment for injuries inflicted on him in a June 3 rocket attack against Yemen's presidential palace.

Moreover, the formation of the council serves as a notable blow to Saleh's unpopular 33-year-old regime, which has been facing regular nationwide protests since January.

It also signals an end to the power transition deal proposed by the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council ([P]GCC).

The leaders of the (P)GCC in late April proposed a power transfer plan that would grant Ali Abdullah Saleh immunity from prosecution in exchange for his departure from the country and handover of power to his vice president in thirty days.

The Yemeni opposition, however, has repeatedly rejected the power transition deal.