By Matthew Russell Lee, Partial exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, July 29 -- Supporters of Yemen's Ali Saleh kidnapped an Italian security official on Sunday in Sa'ana. Beyond showing the continued influence of ostensibly deposed dictator Ali Saleh, the event casts light on an otherwise unreported UN Security Coucil meeting last Tuesday.
Security Council sources exclusively told Inner City Press on July 24 that their "any other business" agenda item that day involved a possible upcoming trip not only to Afghanistan but also to Yemen.
Some felt, they said, the time is right, particularly with the Council's positioning on Yemen being posited as a success of the Council, even as a possible model for Syria.
How does the trip look now? And how does Yemen now appear, as a model for Syria?
Italian foreign minister Giulio Terzi raised the kidnapping of the carabiniere to Yemen's Abu Bakr al Qirbi on Sunday night. The read-outs of the call by AGI and Yemeni state media said the two discussed security cooperation.
Back on July 17, when the UN's envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar emerged from the Security Council to speak to the media early Tuesday afternoon, Inner City Press asked him three questions.
Back on July 17, when the UN's envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar emerged from the Security Council to speak to the media early Tuesday afternoon, Inner City Press asked him three questions.
Benomar had referred to "those who undermine the government," so Inner City Press asked who these might be -- Ali Saleh, or for example the Yemeni Socialist Party, which has criticized President Hadi?
Benomar said, "there is a lively debate in Yemen, all Yemeni constituencies are competing to participate in the national dialogue, this is very healthy."
He acknowledged that there are "spoilers lurking in background," but said that in the Security Council's closed door meeting he "didn't get into further details."
So Inner City Press asked, what IS the role of Ali Saleh now in Yemen? Benomar said that "Mr Saleh is still the president of the GPC." Video here, from Minute 5:21.
And now Saleh's supporters have kidnapped an Italian diplomat and put into doubt a UN Security Council trip. Watch this site.
