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Yemen: Saleh now in Saudi Arabia - officials Yemen situation unclear after President Saleh leaves
(about 2 hours later)
Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh has flown to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment, a day after he was wounded, Saudi officials say. Confusion reigns in Yemen after President Ali Abdullah Saleh flew to Saudi Arabia to receive medical treatment, a day after he was wounded.
Uncertainty surrounded Mr Saleh's whereabouts for much of Saturday. Questions are being asked whether Mr Saleh - who has several times promised to give up power - will return, a BBC correspondent in Yemen says.
Sources in Yemen told the BBC that Mr Saleh had a piece of shrapnel below his heart and second-degree burns to his chest and face. His departure leaves him in a much weakened position.
An uprising demanding that Mr Saleh leave power has led to violence bringing Yemen close to civil war.An uprising demanding that Mr Saleh leave power has led to violence bringing Yemen close to civil war.
The Yemeni president arrived in the Saudi capital Riyadh aboard a Saudi medical plane. Yemen's acting president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, is to meet members of the military and Mr Saleh's sons, al-Arabiya television is reporting, quoting sources.
A Gulf nation diplomatic source told BBC Arabic that the decision to transfer Mr Saleh to Riyadh was taken after Saudi doctors consulted with a German medical team. Mr Saleh flew to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Saturday on a medical plane to seek treatment for injuries sustained in a rocket attack on his presidential palace.
A source told Reuters news agency that Mr Saleh walked off the plane after arriving in Riyadh, but had visible wounds to his face, neck and head. Uncertainty surrounded his whereabouts for much of Saturday.
A second plane carried members of the president's family, AFP news agency said, quoting an unnamed Saudi official. Sources in Yemen told the BBC that Mr Saleh had a piece of shrapnel below his heart and second-degree burns to his chest and face.
Yemen has woken up with President Saleh already out of the country. He arrived in Saudi Arabia late in the night, flown out of Sanaa together with other officials also injured in Friday's attack on the presidential compound.Yemen has woken up with President Saleh already out of the country. He arrived in Saudi Arabia late in the night, flown out of Sanaa together with other officials also injured in Friday's attack on the presidential compound.
Government officials have accused armed tribesmen allied to Mr Saleh's opponents of carrying out the attack which killed seven people, but they have denied it.Government officials have accused armed tribesmen allied to Mr Saleh's opponents of carrying out the attack which killed seven people, but they have denied it.
Mr Saleh, in a much weakened position, has left the country that he has ruled for 33 years, amid political turmoil and calls for him to leave office permanently.Mr Saleh, in a much weakened position, has left the country that he has ruled for 33 years, amid political turmoil and calls for him to leave office permanently.
There is a question mark over whether the defiant president, who promised to give up power several times, will return.There is a question mark over whether the defiant president, who promised to give up power several times, will return.
A Gulf nation diplomatic source told BBC Arabic that the decision to transfer Mr Saleh to Riyadh was taken after Saudi doctors consulted with a German medical team.
Sources close to President Saleh have confirmed to the BBC that some members of the family have left the country with him, including his wife. His son, Ahmad, his nephews, Tarik And Yehia, are reported to still be in the country.
Reports also say the prime minister and other ministers are in Riyadh for treatment.
Ceasefire reportedCeasefire reported
Mr Saleh and several senior officials were praying at the al-Nahdayn mosque inside the presidential compound in the south of Sanaa on Friday afternoon at the time of the attack.Mr Saleh and several senior officials were praying at the al-Nahdayn mosque inside the presidential compound in the south of Sanaa on Friday afternoon at the time of the attack.
The mosque was originally thought to have been hit by rockets, but there are now suggestions someone may have planted a bomb there.The mosque was originally thought to have been hit by rockets, but there are now suggestions someone may have planted a bomb there.
The president broadcast an audio message on Friday after he was wounded, but did not appear in public.The president broadcast an audio message on Friday after he was wounded, but did not appear in public.
In the broadcast, he blamed the attack on an "outlaw gang" of his tribal foes - an accusation denied by Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, the head of the Hashid tribal federation, whose fighters have been clashing with security forces.In the broadcast, he blamed the attack on an "outlaw gang" of his tribal foes - an accusation denied by Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, the head of the Hashid tribal federation, whose fighters have been clashing with security forces.
More than 160 people have been killed in the fighting that began on 23 May and has brought Yemen to the brink of civil war.More than 160 people have been killed in the fighting that began on 23 May and has brought Yemen to the brink of civil war.
The prominent Ahmar family has been financing the opposition and helping sustain protesters, who have been demanding Mr Saleh's resignation since January despite a crackdown that has left at least 350 people dead.The prominent Ahmar family has been financing the opposition and helping sustain protesters, who have been demanding Mr Saleh's resignation since January despite a crackdown that has left at least 350 people dead.
Western and regional powers have been urging Mr Saleh to sign a Gulf Co-operation Council-brokered deal that would see him hand over power to his deputy in return for an amnesty from prosecution.Western and regional powers have been urging Mr Saleh to sign a Gulf Co-operation Council-brokered deal that would see him hand over power to his deputy in return for an amnesty from prosecution.
He has agreed to sign on several occasions, but then backed out.He has agreed to sign on several occasions, but then backed out.
With Mr Saleh out of the country, it is not clear who is in charge. The constitution calls for the vice president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, to take over, including command of the armed forces and security services.With Mr Saleh out of the country, it is not clear who is in charge. The constitution calls for the vice president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, to take over, including command of the armed forces and security services.
But Mr Saleh's son Ahmed commands the elite Republican Guard and other relatives control security and intelligence units.But Mr Saleh's son Ahmed commands the elite Republican Guard and other relatives control security and intelligence units.