Yemen president wounded in attack
Yemen’s president Ali Abdullah Saleh was flown to Saudi Arabia for urgent medical care today after he was wounded by a rocket attack on his compound.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has ruled Yemen for 33 years, has clung to power despite the uprising which started three months ago, whilst forces rose steadily against him. A rocket strike has now struck his compound.
News media report that Saleh left the country with his two wives and some of his children. A Saudi medical official said the president’s condition was not good.
Following the attack, Saleh delivered an audio message, accompanied by an old picture of him. But his failure to appear in public despite repeated promises raised speculations that his injuries are more severe than acknowledged.
According to witnesses, military forces in the southern port city of Aden have withdrawn from checkpoints.
