Inner City Press -- Investigative Reporting From the Inner City to Wall Street to the United Nations

As Yemen SC Draft Calls for Settlement Based on GCC, Nobel Winner Opposes It

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 19 -- As a new draft for a Yemen resolution emerged from the UN Security Council's five permanent members, its multiple references to the Gulf Cooperation Council's initiative, which provides immunity for strongman Ali Saleh and his family, put the draft at odds with much of the country's opposition.

  The new draft, as obtained by Inner City Press and set forth in full here, calls for "a political settlement based upon [the] Gulf Cooperation Council initiative."

  On October 18 across First Avenue from the UN's North Lawn building Inner City Press asked Karman about the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative, which the Security Council draft would either endorse or say a political deal which be "based on."

  Karman replied, through a translator, that "the youth peaceful revolution is against the GCC initiative, especially because it gives immunity to Saleh and his family. We don't think the Security Council will be trapped into a resolution that will give an immunity to the regime." Video here.

  Before Karman arrived -- her plane touched down at the airport at 3 pm but due to traffic she did not arrive until near 5 pm -- Yemenis turned a bullhorn on the UN with chants like "One, two, three, four, Ali Saleh get out the door." One sign said "Saudi and your GCC, Hands off Yemen!"

But for the draft Security Council Resolution on Yemen, click here. Watch this site.