US urges Yemen to enact reform in the absence of Saleh

THE US made clear yesterday that it wants Yemen’s government to seize on the absence of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in a bid to effect a peaceful, orderly political transition.

While Yemen’s acting leader insisted Saleh — in Saudi Arabia for medical treatment — would return in days, diplomats and analysts believe his stay may be prolonged as Riyadh tries to press him to hand over power.

“We are calling for a peaceful and orderly transition,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters in Washington. “We feel that an immediate transition is in the best interests of the Yemeni people.”