White House counterterrorism chief John Brennan on Sunday pressed Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to quickly fulfill his pledge to sign an agreement for peaceful and constitutional political transition in Yemen.
Brennan met with Saleh in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to wish him “a speedy recovery” from injuries he sustained during a rebel attack on his palace in Sanaa, according to a White House statement.
After initially backing the Gulf Cooperation Council-brokered agreement that he step down within 30 days, the Yemeni president has refused to sign the pledge on at least three occasions since May.
In a statement, the White House wrote, “Mr. Brennan emphasized the importance of resolving the political crisis in Sanaa so that the Yemeni Government and people can successfully confront the serious challenges they face, including the terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula, which have claimed the lives of hundreds of Yemeni citizens.
“Mr. Brennan said that the United States is working closely with Yemen's friends and supporters in the Gulf Cooperation Council, Europe, and elsewhere to ensure that much needed assistance will flow to Yemen as soon as the GCC proposal is signed and implemented. The United States believes that a transition in Yemen should begin immediately so that the Yemeni people can realize their aspirations.”
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