Yemen Government Says Military Pledges Loyalty

Yemen Military and Security Forces issued a statement Monday announcing their commitment “to be loyal to the country and protect the constitution legitimacy, security, stability and unity, in addition to achievements of the people of Yemen,” reports Yemen state news agency SABA.

“They affirmed that they will not make it possible for any coup against democracy, the constitution legitimacy and security of the country and the Yemeni people,” according to SABA.

The announcement follows reports that Major General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, commander of the Yemen army’s first armored division, told reporters in Sanaa that he had joined the protest movement against Saleh. He had been a close aide to the embattled president. RFE/RL reported that dozens of Yemeni military officers followed the commander’s lead and publicly pledged their support for the protest movement.

Yemen’s Parliament is to hold an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday after a state of emergency was announced this weekend. Presidential Decree No. 14 for 2011 was issued on Sunday stipulating the dismissal of the government of Prime Minister Ali Mujawar.