Saleh threatens to bring down Yemen’s new government

Former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh has threatened to bring down country’s new government formed under a US-backed power transfer deal. Saleh’s threat came after Yemeni Prime Minister Mohammed Basindawa blamed him for the killing of hundreds of Yemeni protesters and shortcomings in the country. In response to Basindawa’s remarks Saleh called on his party ministers to boycott cabinet meetings until the prime minister apologizes for his remarks. Saleh’s General People's Congress (GPC) party has 17 ministers in the 34-member unity cabinet. Saleh has also accused Basindawa's government of being "weak" and of "not understanding anything about politics." Press TV’s correspondent in Yemen says Saleh successor President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi has threatened to form a new government if Saleh loyalists refuse to attend cabinet meetings. Analysts believe that Saleh's attempts to cause the failure of the consensus government aims at damaging process of power transfer in the country. Saleh, who ruled Yemen for 33 years, stepped down in February after nearly a year of mass street protests against his rule under a US-backed power transfer deal in return for immunity. But Yemenis say that so far there has been no improvement in the country and their demands are not met yet since Saleh loyalists and his family members are in control of power positions in the government, the military and security apparatus. "The unity government up to this point has not solved the issues and problems which we have been going through for years. Part of the reason is because Saleh and his inner circle continue to intervene and the other reason is because the unity government is made of people who are not fit for the job," said Osama Shamsan, a spokesperson for the Yemeni Youth Revolution movement.