U.S. Praises Yemeni President as Sanaa Airport Reopened
The United States on Saturday praised Yemen's president for steps taken as part of the ongoing political transition even as the capital's airport was temporarily shut down and tensions ran high in Sanaa.
"The United States welcomes President Abd Rabo Mansour Hadi's announcement of civilian and military personnel transfers as part of the ongoing political transition in Yemen," State Department acting spokesman Mark Toner said.
"The changes signify the National Consensus Government's commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of the Yemeni people and restoring stability to the country," he added.
"In spite of those who seek to derail the transition, President Hadi has demonstrated strong leadership by steadfastly implementing the agreed-upon political settlement," Toner added.
The airport in Sanaa reopened on Sunday after a one-day shutdown prompted by threats from loyalists of a sacked general close to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, an official told AFP.
"The airport has opened after we have received reassurances from the air force that there will be no threats to aviation," the aviation official said.
"We are now preparing for the first flight" to take off since forces loyal to Saleh's half-brother, General Mohammed Saleh al-Ahmar, who has refused to quit after being sacked by President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, surrounded the airport late on Friday.
A military source said on Saturday that Ahmar, in a message to his troops, has refused to go unless the defense minister and other senior officials also step down.
He also demanded that several members of the powerful Hashed tribe, which backed defectors during last year's anti-regime protests, be forced into exile.
Political sources in Sanaa said that Ahmar had come under pressure from several parties, including Western ambassadors in Sanaa, to retract his decision to halt air traffic.
However, on Sunday another military official said that an air force officer who lives near the airport had fired 10 shots at the control tower demanding compensation for land belonging to his tribe which was seized to expand the airport.
"This is what forced the airport to shut down," the official said.
On Thursday, the U.N. Security Council expressed concern at recent events in Yemen, where followers of Saleh have been accused of hampering the political transition.
In a February speech, President Hadi stressed the need to reunify the army as he pledged "radical reforms" and to fight Al-Qaida as he outlined a two-year transition plan.