Tribal leader calls for dialogue among Yemenis

Sana’a: The leader of Yemen’s largest and most powerful tribe has urged Yemen’s factions, including Al Qaida, to renounce violence and open a dialogue.

The alternative, he said, is armed conflict.

Shaikh Sadeq Al Ahmar, leader of Hashid tribal confederation, told the first meeting of the alliance of Yemen’s tribes on Saturday that the Al Houthi Shiites in the north, the armed secessionists in the south and Al Qaida must reject violence and join in the political process, without preconditions.

He said all of Yemen’s political parties, tribes and civil society groups should take part in a national dialogue next month.

“The road to solving problems is to leave arms behind and resort to dialogue,” he said, “so that the Yemeni people will not be forced to resort to the logic of blood.”

He also called for the repeal of ousted former president Ali Abdullah Saleh’s immunity from prosecution.

Saleh was granted immunity under Gulf-brokered deal last year in which he stood down, bowing to domestic and international pressure, but is accused by his detractors of fuelling instability in Yemen since his departure.

“We invite brothers and friends who sponsor the Gulf initiative to lift the immunity granted to Saleh because he has not respected the conditions of this immunity,” Shaikh Sadeq said at a meeting of the “Alliance of Yemeni Tribes” in Sana’a.

Saleh stepped down after 33 years in power during last year’s popular uprising against him, in exchange for a deal that gave him and his relatives immunity.

Saleh still leads the General People’s Congress party, and is accused of sowing domestic instability.

Ahmar called on political forces in the country to participate in national dialogue, which he said was “the only honourable framework in which to bring Yemen out of its ordeal.”

A national dialogue conference proposed by the government is due to begin in November as part of Yemen’s transition process from Saleh’s rule.

Ahmar heads the Alliance of Yemeni Tribes, created in July 2011 in support of last year’s uprising.