Yemeni president to be in his country to vote in election

SANA'A (A.A) - February 8, 2012 - Yemen's president said on Tuesday that he would be in his country to cast his vote in the upcoming presidential election.  Ali Abdullah Saleh continues to overshadow Yemeni presidential election due on February 21 although his 33-year rule is coming to an end. Saleh, who went to the United States for treatment mid-January, said that he would return to Yemen to vote in the upcoming presidential election, which has caused concerns that chaos and clashes may occur in the pre-election period. Some circles discuss whether or not Saleh will return to Yemen and how his return can affect the stability of the country which is sensitive in the election atmosphere, whereas Vice President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi, to whom Saleh had handed over his authorities when going to the United States, officially launched election campaign. The National Transitional Council (NTC) government, which will administer the two-year transitional process, declared that it was supporting the campaign of Hadi, who would be the only candidate in the election. Leaders of the opposition parties and Prime Minister Mohamed Salem Basindwah highlighted importance of participation in election, and said that participation in election would symbolize the will of Yemeni people to end Saleh regime. Saleh's recent remarks that he would return to the country and U.S. administration's unclear stance on the issue have caused concerns of Yemeni people, whereas circles start to discuss possible scenarios that may occur after Saleh's return. Circles think that Saleh's possible return could hit a big stroke on election process, and some people say that such a development might cancel election or incite street clashes. They also say that NTC government, which is facing serious financial crises, was sitting on a powder keg, and in case the NTC government was late in efforts to overcome economic crisis, it could not last long.