ktlight
3rd May 2011, 06:50
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's refusal to accept a deal proposed by the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council was a loss of face for the Saudi government, says a political observer.
“It is clearly a substantial loss of face for the Saudis, but I think they will have greater worries than that,” said Peter Rushton, political observer from London, in a Press TV interview.
The proposed deal would have granted President Saleh immunity from prosecution in exchange for his stepping down and handing power over to his vice president.
“Over the next few days we will see whether this abandonment of the peace process (by Saleh) leads to further radicalization of opposition on the ground in Yemen,” Rushton added.
“If it does lead to that further radicalization then the Saudis will have a great deal more to worry about than a loss of diplomatic face. They will be worried about what actually happens in their own territory.”
Earlier on Saturday, hundreds of protesters rallied in Saudi Arabia to demand basic human rights and freedom of expression in their country. They urged implementation of reforms and the release of political prisoners.
source where there is a vid
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/177803.html
“It is clearly a substantial loss of face for the Saudis, but I think they will have greater worries than that,” said Peter Rushton, political observer from London, in a Press TV interview.
The proposed deal would have granted President Saleh immunity from prosecution in exchange for his stepping down and handing power over to his vice president.
“Over the next few days we will see whether this abandonment of the peace process (by Saleh) leads to further radicalization of opposition on the ground in Yemen,” Rushton added.
“If it does lead to that further radicalization then the Saudis will have a great deal more to worry about than a loss of diplomatic face. They will be worried about what actually happens in their own territory.”
Earlier on Saturday, hundreds of protesters rallied in Saudi Arabia to demand basic human rights and freedom of expression in their country. They urged implementation of reforms and the release of political prisoners.
source where there is a vid
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/177803.html