Yemeni president blames government for security failings

Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi has accused Prime Minister Mohammed Basindawa and his government of neglecting the  security breakdown in Yemen during a meeting Sanaa on Saturday. Hadi also blamed an opposition political party, which he did not identify, saying that they seek to derail the transition process, accusing them of corruption and contraband smuggling. The Yemeni president suggested that the particular party is responsible for the repeated attacks on power transmission lines, oil pipelines and kidnappings.
Five journalists and a member in the National Dialogue Conference were recently abducted. They have been released in exchange of promises of jobs and compensation, in addition to releasing a person who was sentenced to death in prison.
The meeting was held between Hadi, the Prime Minister, a number of senior army commanders, security intelligence officials and the local authority in the provinces of Sanaa and Ma’rib. These regions have been prone to abductions and suffered attacks which caused a week long blackout.
Hadi blamed the officials for not dealing with the assaults sooner. He said: “The prime minister has complete power, as does the governor in each province. The armed and security forces are capable of restraining the attacks, so they should compromise with the terrorists or electricity and oil gangs.”
The president ordered the head of government, the military and security officials to take new approaches to dealing with the ongoing attacks. He empahsised the need to act without any delay.
Hadi also requested cooperation between all military and security lseniors with the officials of the local authority in the provinces of Ma’rib and Sanaa.
He asserted: “Everyone is being tested right now. You are all under the microscope of the Yemeni people.”
According to political observers, Hadi is attempting to pacify the growing anger in the streets of Yemen. The people are growing increasingly restless since the departure of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh from power in February 2012.
The meeting on Saturday is considered as the first official conference between Hadi and Basindawa since the launch of the comprehensive national dialogue. Previous to that Basindwa protested against Hadi - who failed to consult him about who would be invited to the discussion. The issue has caused a rift between the pair since.
The problem arised after files were leaked concerning Hadi’s consultations with the ambassadors of the transition government – which planned to oust Basindwa from his position and form a new technocrat’s government.