The outburst of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh against Qatar and Al Jazeera news channel cannot be justified. It is at best a smokescreen. His problems are with his people. The people want the regime, which has been in power for three decades, changed.
For the first time in years, northern and southern movements are united on an issue — they want Saleh to step down.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) devised a plan to ensure the stability of Yemen, whereby Saleh would step down in an orderly manner in a process that would lead to a free election.
But he rejected it and instead went after Qatar in an obvious attempt to divert the attention from the real issue. Nobody intends harm to Yemen. The GCC has always supported Yemen.
It is the only country, outside the GCC, that has been invited to join the group. President Saleh understands that. Thus it is ridiculous for him to claim that his problems are the creation of this country or that TV station.
He knows what to do. And he better do it fast before the country, God forbid, slides into violence, the Libya way. And when he decides to do the right thing, all of the GCC will be there to support the stability and development of Yemen.
