President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, after serving as a lieutenant colonel in the army. He had been part of the conspiracy that bumped off his predecessor, Ibrahim al-Hamdi, in the usual tiresome military coup, and he has maintained power by keeping Yemen's many tribes fighting with each other, rather than uniting to string him up. ...
has reportedly sacked the governors of five provinces -- including Aden, Hadramout, Hodeidah provinces -- amid continued protests demanding his ouster.
Following their dismissal as governors, the officials in question have been installed in different government posts.
Muhsin al-Naqib, who served as governor of Lahj province, was appointed as deputy minister of Industry and Trade Ministry, while Governor of Abyan province Ahmed al-Maisary was appointed as deputy Minister of Agriculture.
Aden Governor Adnan al-Jefri, Hadramout Governor Salim al-Khanbashi and Al-Hodayda Governor Ahmed al-Jabali were appointed as members of the country's Shura Council.
The decision came on Tuesday after the United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay warned Yemeni authorities against the brutal repression of peaceful demonstrations.
She gave her backing to Yemeni people's right to express their objections, but called on them to exercise self-restraint and avoid violence.
Meanwhile,
...back at the ranch...
large crowds of protesters assembled in a square in the capital, Sana'a, to stage a massive rally against the US-backed central government.