U.S. and Allies Explore Options in Yemen

On Sunday,  Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh refused to sign the transition agreement brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council, despite threats by White House counterterrorism chief John O.Brennan that the U.S. will consider “possible other steps” if he does not sign.   One option on the table now is bringing Yemen before the U.N. Security Council for unspecified sanctions.  Other countries are hesitantly reviewing aid packages to Yemen, aware that any course of action may pose risks to the country given its poor economic state and the heavy presence of al-Qaeda operatives.  The U.S. Administration has also tried to track military units involved in the political fighting to ensure that U.S. trained counterterrorism units and U.S. equipment have not been involved.  Officials are continuing to call for Saleh to step down.  In remarks with British Foreign Secretary William Hague, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated, “[W]e are dismayed that President Saleh continues his refusal to sign the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative which would help resolve the political challenges facing Yemen today.”  The U.S. Embassy in Sana’a also announced that it would close its consular section Tuesday and Wednesday and only provide emergency services for U.S. citizens.