ALI Abdullah Saleh, Yemen’s former president and long-time strongman, has been killed as his loyalists and Shiite rebels battled for control of the capital.
A video circulating online purported to show Saleh’s body, motionless with a gaping head wound, as he was being carried in a blanket by rebel fighters. Circumstances of his death remain unclear but some officials said rebels killed him as he tried to leave the capital. Saleh’s death was announced on yesterday by Houthi rebels, who have been fighting Saleh’s forces for the past week.
Two of Saleh’s associates and a third official from the government of Yemen’s internationally recognised president, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, have confirmed the death.
His death and the fighting between his supporters and the Houthis puts the civil war on an unpredictable path.
Saleh allied with the Houthis in the years after he was ousted from power, and the support of his loyalist military units was key to helping the Houthis overrun the capital, Sanaa, in 2014, driving out Hadi’s government. But in recent months, the alliance frayed amid Houthi suspicions Saleh was leaning toward the Saudi-led coalition backing Hadi.
Saleh ruled Yemen for more than 30 years. He was forced to resign after protests against him during an Arab Spring uprising in 2011.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here