The UN Security Council has voiced concerns over the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Yemen, as it said, after the UN envoy who visited Yemen weeks ago submitted its briefing to the council, that Al-Qaeda could take advantage of the deterioration in the country. 

In a statement after its meeting on Tuesday, the council urged all Yemeni parties to bring an immediate solution to the Yemeni crisis and start an orderly power transition, coinciding with mounting pressure from the U.S., the EU and Saudi Arabia on President Saleh to sign a GCC power-sharing deal.

President Saleh is convalescing in Riyadh after he underwent several injuries for burns suffered in an assassination attempt in his palace in June. 

Most recently, reports said that Saleh had caved in to U.S. and Saudi pressure to stay in Saudi Arabia and not to return home, but officials in the government and the ruling party said today that Saleh will come back after recuperation. 

The council also expressed support to the efforts being exerted by the countries of the GCC to help solve the Yemeni crisis. Only the Yemeni people can decide who rule them and other countries are just pushing the Yemenis to hold dialogue, said a ruling party official. 

Meantime, the unrest is continuing in most Yemeni cities coinciding with battles between the army and Al-Qaeda in Abyan and the army and revolution defenders in Taiz and Sana’a. 

Furthermore, the opposition has welcomed advanced positions of other countries towards the situation in Yemen, as it urged Yemen’s sisters to have more positive attitudes during this crucial turning point in Yemen.