Yemen TV: President Saleh back from Saudi Arabia

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By AHMED AL-HAJ

The Associated Press

SANAA, Yemen — President Ali Abdullah Saleh returned Friday to the Yemeni capital after more than three months of medical treatment in Saudi Arabia in a surprise move that could further enflame violence between forces loyal to him and his opponents.

Yemeni anti-government protestors carry an injured protestor from the site of clashes with security forces, in Sanaa, Yemen, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011. Rapidly escalating street battles between opponents of Yemen's regime and forces loyal to its embattled president spread to the home districts of senior government figures and other highly sensitive areas of the capital on Tuesday. A third day of fighting, including a mortar attack on unarmed protesters, killed nine people, medical officials said.(AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)

Islam's holy book, the Quran, are placed on the chests of the bodies of dead Yemeni anti-government protestors at a field hospital following clashes with security forces in Sanaa, Yemen, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011. Rapidly escalating street battles between opponents of Yemen's regime and forces loyal to its embattled president spread to the home districts of senior government figures and other highly sensitive areas of the capital on Tuesday. A third day of fighting, including a mortar attack on unarmed protesters, killed nine people, medical officials said.(AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)

Islam's holy book, the Quran, is placed on the body of Yemeni anti-government protestor, Abdou Saeed Mohammed, who was killed during recent clashes with security at a field hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011. Rapidly escalating street battles between opponents of Yemen's regime and forces loyal to its embattled president spread to the home districts of senior government figures and other highly sensitive areas of the capital on Tuesday. A third day of fighting, including a mortar attack on unarmed protesters, killed nine people, medical officials said. Writing in Arabic reads: Martyr Abdou Saeed Mohammed, Taiz".(AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)

Anti-government protestors stand on a damaged billboard during the funeral procession of a Yemeni man who was killed in the recent clashes with security forces, in Sanaa, Yemen Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011. Yemeni government forces fired mortars at tens of thousands of mourners Wednesday in the capital Sanaa, killing three and wounding at least 16. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)

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Saleh left Yemen for Saudi Arabia in June after he was seriously injured in an attack on his presidential compound in the capital Sanaa. During his absence, the country further slipped into chaos after the protests that erupted in February demanding an end to his 33-year old rule.

But the violence took a serious turn this week after a regionally-sponsored, U.S.-backed deal to transfer power hit a new snag.

Saleh had repeatedly refused to sign the deal, and has recently delegated his deputy to restart negotiations with opponents on the deal. It was considered another stalling tactic by Saleh that was followed by a violent crackdown on protesters and the most violent bout of fighting between Saleh loyalists and his armed opponents.

Sanaa has been gripped by street battles and exchanges of shelling between the elite Republican Guards, led by Saleh's son, and tribesmen opposing Saleh as well as military units who had defected.

Nearly 100 people have been killed in Sanaa and elsewhere in Yemen since Sunday.

The fighting continued even after Saleh returned at dawn Friday.

Heavy clashes and thuds of mortars were heard throughout the night in Sanaa and into morning Friday. One person was killed overnight after mortars hit the square in central Sanaa where protesters demanding Sale's ouster have been camped out for months, a medical official said on condition of anonymity. Fifteen people were killed in several separate clashes on Thursday.

The Yemeni public did not see Saleh's return on state TV, which was running songs praising the president and broadcasting video footage of his many public appearances in the past. The TV said Saleh was in good health. Officials in his office said he has returned on a private plane.

For the protest leaders, Saleh's return bode ill for the already explosive situation.

"His return means more divisions, more escalation and confrontations," said Abdel-Hadi al-Azizi, a protest leader, told The Associated Press. "We are on a very critical escalation."

The anti-Saleh protesters have called for more rallies after Friday prayers.

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September 23, 2011 02:11 AM EDT