Yemen’s former president left the capital after Shiite rebels who surrounded his house let him go under international and local pressure, aides close to him said Saturday.
The aides said former President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi left Sanaa and later arrived in Aden. They say Hadi later plans to leave the country to receive medical treatment.
Hadi has been under house arrest for several weeks following a coup by Shiite Houthi rebels. The rebels earlier captured the capital, Sanaa, in September.
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Saleh’s aides say he considers the base key to his survival and would never allow it to fall under Houthi control, unlike most of Sanaa’s other military installations, which are already in the rebels’ hands. Those aides spoke on condition of anonymity as Saleh had not authorized them to speak to reporters.
Thousands also marched Saturday in support of Hadi in southern Ibb province, where they urged the Houthis to leave the region and halt their interference in local affairs. Houthis opened fire, killing one demonstrator and wounding two, said security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they weren’t authorized to talk to journalists.
