A power vacuum opens in Yemen

Pro-democracy protesters cheered as President Saleh was taken to Saudi Arabia for treatment of severe burns sustained during a rocket attack on his palace.

What happened

Control of Yemen was up for grabs this week after President Ali Abdullah Saleh was rushed to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment of serious wounds and burns suffered in a rocket attack on his palace. Saleh, 69, was burned on 40 percent of his body and face, and had shrapnel wounds to his chest, according to Saudi officials, but is now “stable.” In an audio recording broadcast on state TV, the president blamed the attack on forces loyal to his main rival, tribal leader Sadiq al-Ahmar, who two weeks ago began battling government troops in the capital of Sanaa, after Saleh reneged on a deal to step down. The government said Vice President Abdu Rabo Mansour Hadi “is the acting president” until Saleh returns, while behind the scenes, negotiations resumed for the ruling party to surrender power.

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