Ali Saleh Injured & Hospitalized in Riyadh

Reuters06.06.2011 Yemen
Ali Saleh Injured & Hospitalized in Riyadh

Ali Saleh Injured & Hospitalized in Riyadh

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Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh was wounded when opposition tribesmen determined to topple him hammered his palace with rockets Friday in a major escalation of nearly two weeks of fighting with government forces.

State TV aired a statement saying Saleh was "in good health" and would speak to the public within hours. But the extent of the embattled President's injuries was not clear then.

After initially saying Saleh was treated at the palace, an official later said he was moved to a Defense Ministry hospital. Also, Saleh's planned public appearance was postponed "because of scratches on his face," Deputy Information Minister Abdu Al-Janadi said. "There is nothing affecting the President's health," Al-Janadi said, adding that Saleh would appear "as soon as possible, once he is treated."

It was the first time that tribal fighters have directly targeted Saleh's palace in fighting that has rocked the capital since May 23.

On Sunday, Ali Abdullah Saleh arrived in Riyadh for treatment, the Saudi Royal Court said. A late night report by Al Jazeera TV said Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has taken over as Acting President and Supreme Commander of Yemen’s Armed Forces.

According to the statement, HRM King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, responding to a request by the Yemeni government, sent a specialized medical team to Sana’a on Saturday to conduct medical tests on Saleh and other officials and citizens who have suffered injuries as a result of different events that took place recently.

Saleh, his Prime Minister, two Deputy Prime Ministers and the Speakers of both Parliamentary Chambers, were injured. Eleven guards died in the attack.

The medical team recommended that the President and his Officials be taken to Saudi Arabia to complete their treatment, the statement said.

Saleh arrived at King Khalid Air Base in Riyadh Saturday midnight and was transferred to a military hospital, according to media reports.

Saleh, whose Saudi medical evacuation plane was met by a senior Saudi official, walked off the aircraft but had visible injuries on his neck, head and face, a source told Reuters.

Source: Arab News; Al Jazeera; Reuters

 



 
 

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