The interim government of Yemen has granted amnesty to Ali Abdullah Saleh, president for 33 years, as well as to anyone who worked in his government. Many people are outraged by this, demanding that Saleh be put on trial for killing hundreds of protesters during the 11-month uprising against his regime.
The amnesty law grants immunity to Saleh and anyone who worked for him in military, civilian and security institutions during his rule. Saleh has appointed his vice president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur al-Hadi, to be his successor when elections are held in February. The opposition and protesters feel that Saleh is trying to run Yemen by proxy through Mansur and others.
Saleh signed the original power-transfer deal with the guidance of U.S. clients in the Gulf Cooperation Council. Given recent anti-protester remarks by the U.S. ambassador to Yemen, and U.S. and European Union support for the amnesty deal, the status quo will remain in Yemen until the justified demands of the demonstrators are met.
