The current situation in Yemen requires a political solution that can lead to change sought by all, but with a military solution none will come out victorious, Foreign Minister within Yemen’s Caretaker Governor said. “Those who think the solution to our problem will not be a political one are wrong because the Yemeni society is divided to two groups: pro and anti-regime,” he said in a televised interview. 

The best choice for change in Yemen is that the people go to the ballot boxes, he said, making it clear, “if I ask half of the Yemeni people to go out to change the regime, I am sure the second half will seek changing the new regime in six months”.  

President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is spending recuperation in Saudi capital Riyadh, will not resign but through the ballot boxes, he affirmed. 

Furthermore, Al-Qirbi revealed that Saleh was to sign a GCC-brokered power-sharing deal on the day he survived an assassination attempt inside his palace in early June, but the attack delayed the signing. 

President Saleh was burned in the attack that badly wounded 87 senior officials including PM, Shura Chairman and Parliament Speaker, and killed almost a dozen of his bodyguards. The hurt were transported to Saudi Arabia for treatment and some of them including President Saleh have already left hospital. 

The GCC West-backed deal is still the best ground for dialogue to end the Yemeni crisis and maintain the country’s unity, stability and security, he said.

Before the attack, President Saleh backed out of signing the deal for three times at the last minute, the latest was in May after his party and the opposition already inked the GCC plan with the GCC Secretary General in attendance. 

Al-Qirbi warned of dangerous consequences if the parties don’t stick with the GCC plan and the UN Secretary General’s efforts to solve the Yemeni crisis. “The current crisis requires us to reconsider the GCC plan and put it in a practical framework to start a constitutional and orderly transfer of power,” he concluded.