The embattled president, who has been the target of more than six months of anti-government demonstrations, has been loath to transfer power. He has backed away from inking a power-transfer deal at least three times, even though leading ruling party and opposition politicians signed it in late May.
Addressing the nation seated behind a desk, Saleh seemed to be in good health, though his head and neck were covered in what appeared to be an attempt to conceal injuries he suffered in a bomb attack on his compound in early June.
Saleh’s return after nearly four months of recuperation in Saudi Arabia comes amid an escalation of violence in the Yemeni capital. For months, parts of the capital, Sanaa, have been under the control of dissident tribesmen and troops that have defected.
Last week an attack on a protest march ignited fierce clashes between government forces and their armed opponents. More than 150 people have been killed over the past week, including dozens of civilians and unarmed demonstrators.
Saleh reiterated support for an internationally backed Gulf Cooperation Council-mediated power-transfer initiative that offers the president legal immunity in exchange for his resignation. He added that despite his return to Sanaa, his deputy, Vice President Abdelrab Mansour al Hadi, is still authorized to lead negotiations with the political opposition on his behalf.
The speech presented little that was new. Saleh offered vague commitments to a political dialogue and transfer of power. Keeping a calm tone, he hit out at his opponents, dismissing them as power-hungry opportunists and tying them to al-Qaeda.
“This bloodbath will not get you power,” he said, blaming his adversaries for the current spate of violence.
After the speech, the president’s supporters celebrated his video appearance with fireworks and gunfire.
Across the city, Yemenis massed in Change Square, a sprawling sit-in that’s been the center of anti-government demonstrations for months. Those gathered dismissed Saleh’s remarks as mere posturing, reiterating their calls for the president’s immediate resignation.
“We can listen to his words, but the government’s actions make a stronger point,” said Nader al Qirshi, a leading youth activist. “We refuse to deal with someone whose regime has slaughtered us.”
