Free Republic

The Popular Resistance is a militia linked to Yemen's Islah party, a Muslim Brotherhood affiliate that has good relations with both Saudi Arabia and its regional rival Turkey. Part of the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi movement, the party and the militia have enemies within the alliance battling on behalf of President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi's government - particularly groups allied with the United Arab Emirates, which is a major backer of eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar. Recent reports by anti-Islah media in Yemen have accused the party of sending Yemenis to Turkey under the guise of receiving medical treatment,...

Yemen will hold a snap presidential election on 21 February 2012, according to a decree signed by the country's Vice-President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. The move is part of a transition deal agreed this week which sees President Ali Abdullah Saleh hand power to Mr Hadi in return for immunity from prosecution. Mr Saleh signed the accord on Wednesday after months of delays, despite mounting opposition to his rule. He has ruled the country for 33 years. A crackdown on anti-government protests, as well as clashes with tribes opposed to the government, has left hundreds dead since February. Under the deal,...