Saleh protesters in Sana'a significantly reduced the chances for a peaceful solution to the civil unrest in Yemen Saturday as they besieged a building where European, Gulf Arab and the US ambassadors were awaiting Saleh's arrival to finally sign the document that would usher him out of the presidency in 30 days. The aggression along with Saleh's ultimate refusal to sign the document brought declarations from the ambassadors that they would have to withdraw the mainly GCC-hammered out agreement and leave Saleh to fend for himself. “Fending for himself” means that Saleh will rely on his military to hold off protesters until his term is finished in 2013, an untenable position as every Friday brings tens of thousands of protesters to the streets, demanding an end to his rule immediately. No one seems terribly happy with the agreement for Saleh to leave in 30 days. Pro-Saleh forces say that it will leave the country open to domination by extremist elements, perhaps even Al-Qaeda, while anti-Saleh protesters complain that it provides only for Saleh to leave office, granting no immunity to those who have led the protests against the long-entrenched president. The document to get Saleh out of power may have some flaws in it, but it is the country's last chance to get beyond the Saleh years and begin rebuilding. Reluctance to support the agreement from either side will only lead to increased tensions, and without foreign involvement to work out a resolution to the ongoing crisis, major military confrontations between opposing camps. Opposition leaders have signed the document, and are ready to go forward and confront the future. Saleh's stubbornness only serves to force the buffer of foreign involvement out of the situation, leaving virulently opposing camps to take to the streets full-time. All efforts must now be made – and, by all appearances, are being made – to make Saleh sign the document. It is Yemen's last chance. __
