Yemen

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The Guardian reports that President Saleh is being hit by a wave of defections. Mohammed Albasha, who describes himself as a spokesman for the Yemeni embassy in Washington, tweets

AJ live blog is now covering the unrest in Yemen. The protests there seem to picking up momentum with three top army generals having defected to the opposition.

Saleh's 32-year rule is going a Mubarak.

Mellez is next.

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General Ali Mohsen has told al-Jazeera that Yemen faces a serious crisis because of "illegal practices" by the authorities.

• "Yemen today faces a serious crisis ... as a result of unconstitutional and illegal practices by the authorities, a policy of marginalisations and absence of justice. Repressing peaceful demonstrators in public areas around the country has led to a cycle of crises which is getting more complicated each day and pushing the country toward civil war.

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Top Yemeni tribal leader Sadiq al-Ahmar calls for the departure from power of president Saleh, in a phone call with Al Jazeera.

• "I announce in the name of all the members of my tribe that I am joining the revolution," Ahmar said, calling for the president "to exempt Yemen from the bloodshed and make a quiet exit."
  
  He added he was ready to lead a mediation "for an honourable exit" for Saleh. Ahmar heads the Hashid tribal confederation, the largest in Yemen. Tribal support is key to Saleh's continued ability to rule.

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General Ali Abdullaha Aliewa, Adviser of the Yemeni supreme leader of the army, resigns from his post.

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A second Yemeni general says that he and dozens of other officers have pledged their support for the opposition seeking to oust President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

General Nasser Ali Shuaybi told AFP that 60 army officers from Hadramawt province, himself included, had joined the "youth revolution," and that 50 interior ministry officers had done so as well.

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Defecting soldiers are receiving a warm welcome from protesters,tweets Jeb Boone, managing editor of the Yemen Times.

Ali Muhsin's soldiers being kissed and hoisted on the shoulders of protesters in Sana'a #Yemen #YF

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Yemeni army officers celebrate as they join anti-government protesters in Sana'a.


Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/AP

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Yemen's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Ali al-Ahwal, announces his support for the protest movement calling for the ouster of president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Ahwal told AFP news agency by telephone:

• "I announce my support for the youth revolution, and for change in Yemen"

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Al-Jazeera reports that the list of Yemeni ambassadors joining the side of the protesters is growing. It says the ambassador to Egypt is the latest, joining those in Syria and Saudi Arabia, who have also sided with the opposition. Al-Jazeera also lists the ambassador to Jordan, Kuwait, China and the United Nations as having defected.

The list (see below) of people who resigned or defected from president Ali Abdullah Saleh’s regime is growing rapidly. The latest to join the list is Yemen’s ambassador to Egypt.

• Army Officers:
  
  • Major General Ali Mohsen Saleh, Head of the North Western Military Zone
    Brigadier Hameed Al koshebi, head of brigade 310 in Omran area
    Brigadier Mohammed Ali Mohsen, Head of the Eastern Division
    Brigadier Nasser Eljahori, head of brigade 121
    General Ali Abdullaha Aliewa, Adviser of the Yemeni supreme leader of the army
    General Faisal Rajab, based in the southern province of Lahij
    “Dozens of officers of various ranks” – AFP
  Diplomats:
  
  • Abdel-Wahhab Tawaf, Ambassador to Syria
    Mohammed Ali al-Ahwal, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
    Ambassador to Jordan
    Ambassador to Kuwait
    Ambassador to China
    Ambassador to the UN
  Local Officials :
  
  • Ahmed Qaatabi, Governor of Yemen's southern province of Aden
    Himyar al-Ahmar, Deputy Speaker of Parliament
    Mayor of Aden
  3 MPs
  
  Tribal Leaders
  
  • Sheikh Sadeq bin Abdullah Bin Hussein Alahmer, the leader of Hashed tribes

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Al Jazeera : President Ali Abdullah Saleh says the majority of the people are behind him and that he will not step down, despite losing support of top army generals and tribal leaders. He was quoted by the state-run news agency:

• "We're still here... the great majority of the Yemeni people are with security, stability and constitutional law. [...] Those who are calling for chaos, violence, hate and sabotage are only a tiny minority.

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Yemen's defence minister Mohammad Nasser Ali will read a statement soon on Yemen television about a wave of defections and resignations by top military officers and envoys, an official source told Reuters.

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Al Jazeera French foreign minister Alain Juppe says the resignation of the Yemeni president is now unavoidable, as unrest escalates and a wave of top military officers and envoys defected or resigned. Juppe told a news conference in Brussels:

• "We say this to Yemen, where the situ:ation is worsening. We estimate today that the departure of president (Ali Abdullah) Saleh is unavoidable.

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Al Jazeera is reporting that Yemen's defence minister says that the army supports president Ali Abdullah Saleh and that it will defend him against any "coup against democracy".

• "The armed forces will stay faithful to the oath they gave before God, the nation and political leadership under the brother president Ali Abdullah Saleh..., [...] We will not allow under any circumstances an attempt at a coup against democracy and constitutional legitimacy, or violation of the security of the nation and citizens.

Yemeni television showed footage of Saleh, facing popular protests against his 32-year rule, swearing in new members of the appointed Shura Council, Yemen's upper house of parliament.

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The Guardian's sharp-eyed Brian Whitaker has noticed that today is President Saleh's birthday.