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Obama calls on Yemeni president to go ahead with promised reforms

RIA Novosti

04:09 04/02/2011 MOSCOW, February 4 (RIA Novosti) - U.S. President Barack Obama has called on his Yemeni counterpart Ali Abdullah Saleh to follow up his pledge of democratic reforms in the country with "concrete actions," the White House said.

Mass demonstrations involving both protesters and supporters of the Yemeni president took place in the country's capital, Sana'a, on Thursday, in the wake of the mass anti-government protests that have engulfed Egypt since last week. The opposition has pledged to hold anti-government rallies every Thursday.

In a telephone conversation with Saleh, Obama asked that Yemeni security forces "show restraint and refrain from violence against Yemeni demonstrators who are exercising their right to free association, assembly, and speech," a statement posted on Thursday on the White House website said.

Obama also said it was "imperative" that Yemen take "forceful action" against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the statement said. The United States fears that the terrorist group may take advantage of the situation when the Yemeni security forces' attention will focus on anti-government protests.

On the eve of the demonstrations, dubbed by the opposition a Day of Rage, Saleh said he would not seek reelection after his term expires in 2013. He also pledged not to seek the presidential post for his son.

Saleh also said he requested his General People's Congress (GPC) party to suspend debate on a constitutional amendment that would cancel presidential term limits and postpone the parliamentary polls due in April, in response to opposition demands.

Mass protests, the first large-scale public challenge to Saleh in his 32-year rule, broke out in Yemen in late January, apparently inspired by a recent wave of protests in Tunisia. Last Thursday, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Sana'a demanding that Saleh leave office.

Obama also turned in the telephone conversation to anti-terrorism cooperation, which has become increasingly important following several foiled attacks on the US mainland blamed on a Yemen-based Al-Qaeda affiliate.