Yemen's president, , promised not to seek re-election
when his term expires in 2013, becoming the third Arab leader in the
span of 24 hours to make major concessions in the face of some of the
largest protests ever seen in the Middle East.
President Saleh (Creative Commons)
"I present these concessions in the interests of the country. The interests of the country come before our personal interests," Saleh, who's been in power for nearly 33 years, told political and military dignitaries.
Saleh also announced Wednesday that he would not allow his son to run for the presidency. But it's unclear if the pledge will be enough to stop thousands of protestors from flowing onto the streets of Yemen on a planned "day of rage" against him. Protests in December drew less than 20,000 people.
It's also unclear if Saleh will keep the promise. He promised not to seek re-election back in 2005, only to renege on the agreement a year later. Term limits technically will push him out in 2013 anyway, but legislative supporters have considered overturning the law.
In Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak said Tuesday he would not try to run for another term. His current one expires in September, and he vowed to see it through. Protestors expressed initial excitement at the decision, but they and the country's opposition leader remain on the streets of Egypt's major cities, refusing to leave until he steps down immediately.
In Jordan, King Abdullah II switched up his cabinet to appease protests, which had threatened to continue to grow without action from the leader.
All three of the nations struggle with a population that has an abnormally high percentage of people living in poverty.
From the New York Times:
Yemen is troubled by a rebellion in the north and a struggle for secession in the once independent, Marxist south. In recent years, an affiliate of Al Qaeda has turned parts of the country — a rugged, often lawless region on the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula — into a refuge beyond the state’s reach. Added to the mix is a remarkably high proportion of armed citizens, some of whom treat Kalashnikovs as a fashion accessory.
The next Arab leader who may be forced to make political reforms could be President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. A "day of rage" is planned against his rule for Saturday.