Sana'a: The Yemeni Supreme Council of Defence has said it is against any coup or overthrow of the constitutional order represented by President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the recent declaration of support by a prominent military commander for those calling for the president's ouster is likely an attempt to broker a peaceful and honourable exit for the beleaguered president.
At a meeting in the Yemeni capital Sana'a on Monday, the council said the support declared by General Ali Mohsin, the country's second most powerful military commander, for Yemen's "popular revolution" was likely coordinated to find a solution for a peaceful transfer of power and a secured exit for President Saleh.
It does not necessarily mean a confrontation between the armed forces lead by Mohsin and the republican guard lead by Saleh's son Ahmad.
Earlier in the day, in a big turning point in the Yemeni crisis, Mohsin, the military commander of the northern region, declared his support for the revolution against the 33-year rule of Saleh.
"On my behalf and on behalf of my colleagues in the armed forces, we are declaring our peaceful support for the peaceful revolution of the young people and their demands, and we will perform our duties fully in maintaining the security and stability in the capital and wherever our military units are, beside our brothers from the security forces," General Mohsin said.
Mohsin, a cousin of Saleh, is considered the second most powerful military commander in the country after Saleh himself. He has been the main pillar of Saleh's rule since the president took over power in 1978, has a good reputation and enjoys good relations with most of Yemen's tribal and religious leaders.
Earlier, Saleh addressed a gathering of tribesmen from Safan and Mankha west of the capital and said: "We are steadfast as the mountains of Nukum and Ayban and the majority of the people stand for security and stability."
Nukum and Ayban are the two highest mountains around the capital Sana'a, in the east and west respectively.
The council meeting later in the day, chaired by Saleh, said it would follow up the military and security developments after the important military commander declared their support for what is being called the popular revolution against the President Ali Abdullah Saleh's rule.
Before this meeting, a military statement published by the state-run media said the armed forces would remain with President Saleh and within the bounds of the constitution.
Also, late on Monday troops with tanks and armoured vehicles from the republican guards, led by Saleh's son Ahmed, were deployed after the armed forces, which are led by General Mohsin mobilised around anti-Saleh protesters in sit-in camps near the university starting Sunday. Mohsin's troops replaced the central security forces of General Yahya Mohammad Abdullah Saleh, President's Saleh's nephew.
Late on Monday, Yemeni foreign minister Abu Bakr Al Querbi flew to Riyadh where a Saudi-led regional mediation is on.
Sources close to the government told Gulf News Mohsin's support for the popular revolution does not necessarily mean he has become an enemy of his commander and relative, and does not mean armed confrontation between the two defence divisions - one led by Mohsin and the other by Saleh's son Ahmad.
It also does not imply any conspiracy between the two powerful men against the protesters and is likely an attempt at coordinating a peaceful transfer of power and a secure exit for Saleh.
