Yemen president backpedals on anti-US remarks

Yemen's Sahel expresses 'regret' over his own remarks towards US, Israel following rebuke from White House.

Middle East Online

Forever faithful to the US WASHINGTON - Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh called a senior White House aide Wednesday to express regret over his searing criticism of Israel and the United States over Arab uprisings, officials said. Saleh called President Barack Obama's top anti-terrorism advisor John Brennan a day after the White House complained he was scapegoating, after he said Arab uprisings were an Israeli plot backed by Washington. "President Saleh called assistant to the president John Brennan this morning to convey his regret for misunderstandings related to his public remarks that Israel and the United States have engaged in destabilizing activities in Arab countries," the White House said in a statement. "President Saleh also said that he is firmly committed to meaningful political reform in Yemen and that he is reaching out to opposition elements in an effort to achieve reform through a democratic, inclusive, and peaceful process. "Mr Brennan expressed appreciation for the call and said that any comments that seek to attribute blame for recent developments in the region are unhelpful, as they ignore the legitimate aspirations of people in the Arab world. Brennan also encouraged Saleh to continue with his to reach out to opposition groups, amid mass protests against his rule in Yemen and called on all sides of the political dispute to eschew violence.