SANA'A/RIYADH: The Saudi Royal Court said Sunday Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh had arrived in Riyadh to be treated for wounds suffered in Friday's rocket attack on his presidential palace – an assault that marked a major escalation in a conflict that has been sliding toward all-out civil war. Saleh, whose Saudi medical evacuation plane was met by a senior Saudi official, walked off the aircraft but had visible injuries on his neck, head and face, a source told Reuters. In Sana'a, Saleh's departure set off wild street celebrations. Crowds danced, sang and slaughtered cows in hopes that this spelled a victorious end to a more than three-month campaign to push their leader from power. Behind the festive atmosphere, many feared Saleh, a masterful political survivor who has held power for nearly 33 years, will yet return – or leave the country in ruins if he can't. Hanging in the balance was a country that even before the latest tumult was beset by deep poverty, malnutrition, tribal conflict and violence by an active Al-Qaeda franchise with international reach. Saleh, who was taken to a military hospital in Riyadh, underwent successful surgery on his chest to remove jagged pieces of wood, said medical officials and a Yemeni diplomat. They spoke on condition of anonymity. The stunning rocket attack, which the government first blamed on tribal fighters who in recent weeks turned against the president and later on Al-Qaeda, killed 11 bodyguards and seriously injured five senior officials worshipping just alongside Saleh. While Saleh is away, Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi is acting as temporary head of state, said Deputy Information Minister Abdu Al-Janadi. He said the president would return to assume his duties after his treatment, though experts on Yemeni affairs questioned whether a return is possible in the face of so much opposition. “Saleh will come back. Saleh is in good health, and he may give up the authority one day but it has to be in a constitutional way,” Al-Janadi said. “Calm has returned. Coups have failed. ... We are not in Libya, and Saleh is not calling for civil war.” Saleh's absence raised the specter of an even more violent power struggle between the armed tribesmen who have joined the opposition and loyalist military forces under the command of Saleh's son and other close relatives. Street battles between the sides have already pushed the political crisis to the brink of civil war. In an attempt to cool the situation, the vice president offered through mediators to pull government forces back from the neighborhood of the capital where they've battled fighters loyal to Sheikh Sadeq Al-Ahmar, who heads Yemen's most powerful tribal confederation, the Hashid. Al-Ahmar said in a statement he agreed to the deal, which requires his forces to leave the streets and government ministries they seized starting Monday. Late Sunday, opposition members and ruling party officials said negotiations have begun based on a US-backed Gulf Arab plan to end the crisis with Saleh's resignation. Saleh rejected that plan three times after agreeing to sign it. His departure could allow Yemen's powerful Gulf neighbors to push it forward. Details of how this would proceed remained unclear. The two sides said Saleh was expected to remain in Saudi Arabia for two weeks, one for treatment and another for meetings, but it remained unclear if he will return to Yemen, All spoke on condition of anonymity because negotiations were ongoing. In the streets of Sana'a, joyful crowds celebrated what they hoped would be Saleh's permanent exit. Crowds danced, sang and slaughtered a few cows in what demonstrators have dubbed Change Square, the epicenter of the nationwide protest movement since mid-February calling for Saleh to step down immediately. Some uniformed soldiers joined those dancing and singing patriotic songs and were hoisted on the shoulders of the crowd. Many in the jubilant crowd waved Yemeni flags, joyfully whistling and flashing the “V” for victory signs. Women in black veils joined demonstrators carrying banners that hailed Saleh's departure. One read: “The oppressor is gone, but the people stay.” But there were also fears that the president would attempt a comeback or try to transfer power to his son Ahmed, who heads the Republican Guard and remains in Yemen. Some worried Saleh and his allies could even try to leave the country in ruins if they feel there is no way to stay in power. In Taiz, Yemen's second-largest city, dozens of gunmen attacked the presidential palace on Sunday, killing four soldiers in an attempt to storm the compound, according to military officials and witnesses. They said one of the attackers was also killed in the violence. The attackers belong to a group set up recently to avenge the killing of anti-regime protesters at the hands of Saleh's security forces. – AgenciesCaption: Jubilation Yemeni army soldiers, lifted by anti-government protesters, chant slogans and wave their national flag in Sana'a as they celebrate President Ali Abdullah Saleh's departure to Saudi Arabia, Sunday. (AP) __
