Yemenis rally for political restructure, reform in military

Yemenis have held anti-government demonstrations across the country to demand the political restructuring and reform of the military.

Thousands of Yemenis took to the streets on Monday calling for the removal of officials loyal to the country’s former ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh, saying that little change will take place in the country as long as Saleh’s regime, family and tribal members are in control of power positions in the government, the military and security apparatus.

Demonstrators also demand that deposed ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh and his aides face trial for the killing of nearly 2,000 protestors since their revolution began last year.

Since Saleh, who ruled Yemen for 33 years, stepped down under a US-backed power transfer deal in February, which granted him immunity, Yemenis have been holding almost daily demonstrations demanding his prosecution.

Yemeni soldiers have also staged several sit-ins and protest rallies demanding the ouster of the air force commander, who is Saleh’s half-brother.

Currently, Saleh’s eldest son Ahmed commands the elite Republican Guard, his nephew Yehya heads the central security services and another nephew, Tariq, controls the Presidential Guard.

Saleh’s deputy, UK-trained field marshal Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, replaced him on February 25 following a single-candidate presidential election backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Hadi will serve for an interim two-year period as stipulated by the power transfer deal.