Yemen Snapshot: With President Saleh Away, Relatives Try to Hold Power Against "Boring" Protests (Kasinof)

General Yahya Saleh“The problem is that the rest of the world believes that this is a youth revolution,” Brig. Gen. Yahya Saleh, one of the nephews, said in an interview in his office at the sprawling headquarters of Central Security Forces, the paramilitary division he commands.

“How many are there in the squares?” he asked. “Do they represent the majority? In a democracy, does the minority rule the majority? They should have some self-respect and go home. It’s been five months now, and it’s boring.”

Click to read more ...

Yemen Feature: Who's Who in the Battle for Power (Al Jazeera English and Johnsen)

Sheikh Abdullah al-Ahmar & His 10 SonsGovernment sources in Yemen said on Sunday that Saleh's sons and nephews have not left the country. That gives Saleh a strong power base inside Yemen; the president has spent years consolidating power within his family.

The elite Republican Guard is headed by Saleh's son, Ahmed, long viewed as a potential heir to the presidency. His nephew Yahya leads the riot police; another nephew, Tariq, is the head of Saleh's personal bodyguards.

Several other brothers and nephews hold key positions in the military and intelligence services as well. Collectively, Saleh's family commands tens of thousands of troops, many of them the best-trained and best-equipped in Yemen.

Click to read more ...