Yemenis Turn Anger on U.S. Embassy

Despite the final departure of President Ali Abdullah Saleh from Yemen, protestors are still angry and are voicing their frustration over the immunity law. The anger has built up due to a slow-regime change and lack of consequences despite not adhering to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) agreements, and is now being projected onto the international community, specifically, the U.S. Embassy. “It is all their doings [the Americans], they gave him money, then weapons to destroy us, now they want to protect him from his crimes. If they love him so much why don’t they just take him?” said one demonstrator. Extra security was dispatched to the U.S. Embassy as a precaution. U.S. officials have said that though the decision to grant immunity was not an easy one, it was a necessary step for a power transition that would benefit Yemen in the long-term.

Meanwhile, Saleh is seeking permanent residence in Oman. Saleh is en route to the U.S. for medical treatment, where officials said he would only stay as long as was medically necessary. His stay is not expected to last beyond the end of February. Saleh will also be returning to Yemen in February to attend a ceremony to swear in the new President. The Oman government has not yet made any decisions regarding the bid for residence.