After nearly 9 months of fruitless negotiations and stalling from the part of the Yemeni government, western countries are growing tired of president Saleh's refusal to see sense and sign a Gulf brokered proposal which would if enacted grant him a much needed immunity from future prosecutions. The proposal also stipulates that Yemen' Security Forces and army would have to be restructured since so far they are under the Saleh's direct control and leadership.
Diplomats have now decided to take the matter to the U.N Security Council, hoping that a UN resolution would force the embattled autocrat out of power.
"The international community has decided we need to up the pressure now. No decision has been taken yet over what type of resolution we might try…But we need to move beyond statements now," said a diplomat in Sana'a, the Yemeni capital.
After the recent escalation of violence and the bloodshed which ensued as a result of fierce clashes between protesters, government troops, dissident soldiers loyal to General Ali Mohsen and the tribes, western nations are increasingly concerned that Yemen will plunged into an all-out civil war if the matter of power transfer is not sorted promptly.
Furthermore, the disintegration of the state institutions has allowed Islamist groups allegedly linked to al-Qaeda to expand their controlled territories in the southern province of Abyan, threatening to destabilize the entire region and disrupt the Oil shipping route.
According to some sources within the Yemeni government, Jamal Benomar, the UN envoy to Yemen charged to mediate between the regime and the Opposition was asked to return immediately to the U.S since he had failed to convince president Saleh to agree to the GCC proposal. Subsequently, Ban Ki moon, the UN Secretary General gave Saleh a 72 hour deadline before commencing the procedure which would lead to a UN Security Council resolution.
However, since China and Russia which are both permanent members of the Council have voiced in the past their refusal to intervene in what they called foreign countries "internal affairs", diplomats are wondering whether they would allow a resolution to be passed on Yemen.