Yemen officials deny president has left country

BBC World News ^ | June 4, 2011

[robowombat]

4 June 2011 Last updated at 09:43 ET Share this pageEmailPrint 571

Yemen officials deny president has left country

The extent of President Saleh's injuries is unclear Yemeni officials have denied President Ali Abdullah Saleh has left the country, a day after he was injured in an attack on his compound in Sanaa.

Unconfirmed reports earlier said that Mr Saleh had flown to Saudi Arabia.

Mr Saleh had some shrapnel near his heart and second-degree burns on his chest and face, sources told the BBC.

The president aired an audio message on Friday saying he was well. But he has not appeared in public and there remains speculation over his condition.

In the broadcast, Mr Saleh blamed the attack on an "outlaw gang" of his tribal foes - an accusation denied by Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, the head of the Hashid tribal federation, whose fighters have been clashing with security forces.

[Jet Jaguar]

Bump

[Revolting cat!]

Elvis hasn’t left the country?

[353FMG]

Some shrapnel near his heart and burns on his chest but he is OK. Nothing serious.

[jimfree]

Yumpin’ Yemeni!

[gandalftb]

Saleh and 24 family members are in Saudi Arabia. Saleh walked off the Saudi medical evac plane and had visible injuries on his neck, head and face from shrapnel, much of which will require surgery to remove. The prime minister, two deputy prime ministers and the speakers of both parliamentary chambers are also being treated from the same attack that was a bomb, not a rocket attack.

Acting President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi met members of the military and Saleh's sons yesterday. Likely there will be a very difficult and bloody transition of power.