SANAA // President Ali Abdullah Saleh asked his people for forgiveness in a farewell speech yesterday shortly before leaving Yemen to seek medical care in the United States.
"I will go to the United States for treatment and will then return as head of the [ruling] General People's Congress [GPC]party," the Saba news agency quoted Mr Saleh as saying.
"I ask for forgiveness from all my people, men and women, for any shortcomings during my 33-year-long rule."
Mr Saleh, 69, said he would return to take part in the appointment of his deputy, Abdurabu Mansur Hadi, as president following an election on February 21, Saba reported.
Last night, an official close to the presidency told Agence-France Press (AFP) that "the Yemeni president left Sanaa one hour ago," without specifying Mr Saleh's destination. Diplomats in Sanaa, however, said that Mr Saleh's eldest son Ahmed - who commands the Republican Guard - was "already in Oman" to prepare for his father's visit.
"He is expected [in Oman] within two hours. My information is that he is not going to spend the night here. But that may change", a Omani government official said last night.
A GPC official, Sultan Al Barakani, told AFP last week that the president, who remains in office on an honorary basis, would visit Oman before travelling to New York for treatment on injuries he received in a bombing at the presidential palace last June.
Mr Saleh's departure came a day after parliament adopted a law giving him "complete" immunity from prosecution in return for stepping down under a transition deal brokered in November by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council. The opposition signed the GCC transition deal last April, but Mr Saleh repeatedly stalled, triggering months of political deadlock.
In his farewell speech yesterday, Mr Saleh described parliament's approval of the law, and the endorsement of Mr Hadi as the only candidate in the February election, as a "good achievement".
The law also grants Mr Saleh's aides limited immunity.
He apologised for any wrongdoing and mistakes during his reign, saying they were not intentional.
"I beg your pardon and I apologise to all the Yemeni citizens," Saba news quotes Mr Saleh as saying.
"The poor youths [who have continued] sit-ins for 11 months, go back to your homes and families and open up a new page with the new leadership. I feel sorry for you," Mr Saleh said.
Aides to the president said that Mr Saleh had gathered top political, military and security officials for his farewell speech and announced the promotion of Mr Hadi to the rank of marshal.
The immunity legislation has drawn wide condemnation from young protesters who have seen hundreds of their compatriots killed by Mr Saleh's security forces and loyalists since the uprising against his rule broke out in January 2011.
Yesterday, tens of thousands of Yemenis gathered in cities including Sanaa, Taiz, and Hodiedah, denouncing the legislation and demanding Mr Saleh and his aides be prosecuted for the killings of protesters.
"No immunity, no protection… we will execute the mass killer," the protesters in Sanaa chanted. "Immunity is a betrayal to the blood of martyrs ... no deals at the expense of martyrs," some banners read.
In Taiz, crowds denounced the new law and warned they would sue the unity government.
Qasem Al Sabri, the father one of the victims and chief of the Taiz-based Khoulod Organisation for the Families of Martyrs and Injuries, said the group would sue the cabinet and the parliament "for being partners in the crime."
"No power on earth can give Saleh and his gang immunity except us, the relatives of the martyrs. We will pursue the killers before local judiciary and if it rejects or fails, we will seek the international criminal court," Mr Al Sabri said. He said his son Saleem, 21, was shot dead in September during a peaceful protest in Taiz.
The UN envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar, has also criticised the immunity law, arguing it neglects the rights of the victims.
Mr Benomar on Saturday called on parliament to enact a "transitional justice and reconciliation" law that would allow victims to be heard and make claims for compensation as well as get the political prisoners released.
Meanwhile, Sanaa's airport was closed yesterday by troops demanding the removal of their commander, Major General Mohammed Saleh Al Ahmar, a half-brother of the president.
malqadhi@thenational.ae
* With reporting by AFP and AP
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
More on Quran memorisation:
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
MATCH INFO
Barcelona v Real Madrid, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
From exhibitions to the battlefield
In 2016, the Shaded Dome was awarded with the 'De Vernufteling' people's choice award, an annual prize by the Dutch Association of Consulting Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers for the most innovative project by a Dutch engineering firm.
It was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to modify the Shaded Dome to make it suitable for ballistic protection. Royal HaskoningDHV, one of the companies which designed the dome, is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy, leading the way in sustainable development and innovation.
It is driving positive change through innovation and technology, helping use resources more efficiently.
It aims to minimise the impact on the environment by leading by example in its projects in sustainable development and innovation, to become part of the solution to a more sustainable society now and into the future.
Cricket World Cup League Two
Teams
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
Fixtures
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Oman
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
%3Cp%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%201.9km%20King%20Salman%20Boulevard%2C%20a%20Parisian%20Champs-Elysees-inspired%20avenue%2C%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%202028%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20Royal%20Diriyah%20Opera%20House%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20completed%20in%20four%20years%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%20first%20of%2042%20hotels%2C%20the%20Bab%20Samhan%20hotel%2C%20will%20open%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20On%20completion%20in%202030%2C%20the%20Diriyah%20project%20is%20forecast%20to%20accommodate%20more%20than%20100%2C000%20people%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20%2463.2%20billion%20Diriyah%20project%20will%20contribute%20%247.2%20billion%20to%20the%20kingdom%E2%80%99s%20GDP%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20It%20will%20create%20more%20than%20178%2C000%20jobs%20and%20aims%20to%20attract%20more%20than%2050%20million%20visits%20a%20year%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20About%202%2C000%20people%20work%20for%20the%20Diriyah%20Company%2C%20with%20more%20than%2086%20per%20cent%20being%20Saudi%20citizens%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
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