SANAA // The deputy United States national security adviser said yesterday that Yemen's outgoing president Ali Abdullah Saleh will be in the US tomorrow when Yemenis elect their new president.
"My expectation is that he will return to Yemen after the election," John Brennan told reporters yesterday in Sanaa.
Mr Saleh is in the US for medical treatment. He had said he would return to Yemen for the election of vice president Abdurabu Mansur Hadi, who is the only candidate on the ballot.
After the election, Mr Saleh "will be a private Yemeni citizen and his future is something Ali Abdullah and his family will need to determine," Mr Brennan said.
Mr Brennan said that Mr Hadi is committed to destroying Al Qaeda in Yemen and will be a strong partner in the US fight against terrorism.
He said the US has "been very careful that our assistance, advice and equipment is not going to those units that are not fighting Al Qaeda. I want to emphasise that we are doing everything in full partnerships with the Yemeni government and we will continue to do so".
Mr Brennan also carried a letter from Barack Obama, the US president, to Mr Hadi.
"The president asked me to come out here to demonstrate and to underscore the commitment the US has in the future of Yemen," Mr Brennan said.
He said the US offered Yemen in the past year more than US$100 million (Dh3.67m) in humanitarian aid. But he added that Yemen's needs were so great other countries would have to give money. He said he would fly to Saudi Arabia and Europe to discuss Yemen's challenges.
"The international community is optimistic that there is a dawn of a new day in Yemen," Mr Brennan said. But before other nations begin providing aid, "it is important for the Yemeni government to be able to prioritise its needs".
He stressed the umportance of Yemen reorganising its military, which has been splintered since the uprising against Mr Saleh began in January last year.
"The Yemeni armed forces cannot be a collection of individual fiefdoms, " he said. "There has to be a strong command system to make sure the armed forces are truly national."
Mr Brennan said unifying the military should be one of Yemen's top priorities.
"If Yemen is going to get through this political transition and destroy Al Qaeda and other terrorists, the professionalisation of the military armed forces is essential," he said.
Mr Brennan also insisted that if Yemen's leaders expect help from other nations, corruption must be brought under control.
He called on rival military commanders - including General Ali Mohsen Al Ahmar who defected and joined the opposition last year - to set aside their differences.
He said nations inclined to help Yemen must be assured the military would be a professional and disciplined force. Potential donors must know their money will be used to fight Al Qaeda and other militants and not for political purposes.
Mr Hadi will lead Yemen during a two-year transition in which a new constitution will be drafted and leaders will try to resolve the deep divisions within the country.
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