Erstellt am: 20. 9. 2011 - 14:58 Uhr

The staying power of Yemen's Saleh

Reality Check: The complexities of the conflict in Yemen, Middle East developments, US tax on the rich, respekt.net, Author Peter Goldsworthy

When it comes to hanging on to power, there can be few to touch the tenacity of Yemen's President, Ali Abdullah Saleh. In 33 years in power, he has clung on to the presidency through thick and thin, and kept his position as the country has crumbled around him. Not that it was ever a stable or peaceful place to start with. Plagued with uprisings and civilian conflicts, a traditionally weak economy and few natural reserves, Gaddafi (who holds the record for hanging onto power in the region), has had an easy ride in Libya by comparison.

Although less high profile than in Tunisia and Egypt, the Arab Spring got off to an early start in Yemen. In fact, protests demanding Saleh should stand down had already started late in 2010, but really gained momentum alongside the anti-Mubarak protests in Egypt.

An assassination attempt in June this year resulted in Saleh sustaining a collapsed lung and burns over 40% of his body. He was taken to Saudi Arabia for treatment, and analysts were saying it would be a one-way trip, and that he would soon be forced to stand down. However, while the vice-president Abd al-Rab Mansur was appointed acting president - Saleh hung on to the presidency, and is showing no sign of letting go.

But Yemen is a complicated country. It's not a matter of protesters vs. government. In fact, it could be argued that there isn't a government at all at the moment. The cabinet was sacked in March and, as mentioned before, Saleh himself is out of the country. However, for many the Saleh family still represents what little stability the country can claim, and they still have the support of many Yemenis.

So who are the protesters? Some of them come from the Ahmar clan - the historic rivals to the Saleh family. The Ahmar family lead of the tribal federation, as well the Islamist Islah party.

Then there is General Mohsen, who has previously tried to mediate in Yemeni conflicts, but has now defected and backed the protesters. Some troops are loyal to him, others to the Saleh family, and they are now facing off in the capital of Sana.

Add to the mix a sizable contingent of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula - and it's clear that the situation is very unclear. Steve Crilley went to Ginny Hill of Chatham House and Shashank Joshi of Harvard University for some expert analysis.

Israel offers talks with Palestine to fend of UN membership bid

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is offering to hold direct talks with Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, in an attempt to persuade Abbas not to go ahead with his planned bid for Palestinian statehood at the United Nations on Friday.

Given that the US has said it will veto the bid, and Abbas is therefore doomed to fail, why are the US, EU and Israel so desperate to talk him out of asking for the vote?

Middle East analyst, Michael Lüders, told Joanna Bostock that the vote could potentially change the whole narrative around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and undermine Israel's view of itself as the victim.

Taxing the rich to help the poor

US President, Barack Obama, is proposing heavier taxes on America's wealthiest citizens to help ease the deficit and get the economy going again. Karin Kübelböck of Attac told Chris Cummins that this is not just the recipe for the United States, but for the rest of the world, too.

Day of Respect

respekt.net has declared today a "Day of Respect" to mark its first anniversary. It is also using the occasion to promote its new project aimed at getting people to help each other in very practical ways. Instead of donating money, or paying for services, participants are invited to donate their time and skills.

Australian Author, Peter Goldsworthy

Peter tells John Cummins about his latest novel, "Everything I Knew" which has just been published in German under the title "Ernster als Liebe".

FM4 Reality Check

Monday to friday from 12 to 14, and after the show via Podcast or fm4.orf.at/realitycheck.