The troops defected from the Republican Guard and the Central Security forces to join the popular revolution that has been demanding the ouster of President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh
... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, but he didn't invite Donna Summer to the inauguration and Blondie couldn't make it...The anti-government protesters welcomed the troops and called on all other regime forces to join the revolution.
Army defections continue as embattled Saleh refuses to step down despite mounting pressure at home and from the international community.
On Saturday, Saleh stated that he would hand over power to the military if he had to heed opposition demands for his resignation.
The United Nations
...Parkinson's Law on an international scale...
Security Council is scheduled to discuss Saleh's refusal to loosen his three-decade grip on power under a plan proposed by the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council.
The initiative gives Saleh immunity from prosecution in return for quitting power, a plan which has infuriated demonstrators demanding Saleh's prosecution.
Protesters want the Saudi and US-backed dictator to stand trial in an international court for the killing of hundreds of protesters since the outbreak of the anti-regime demonstrations in the country in late January.
Meanwhile,
...back at the wine tasting, Vince was about to start tasting his third quart...
tens of thousands of Yemenis once again erupted into the streets over the past two days to demand an end to the deadly crackdown on popular protests.