Yemen War May Be Ending

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31934, 11 March 1969, Page 15

Yemen War May Be Ending

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright j

ADEN, March 10. Reports reaching this Red Sea port say the seven-year civil war in Yemen appears to be ending, according to United Press International.

The former King, Imam Mohammed El Badr, whose overthrow by republican forces in 1962 brought about the war, was reported heading to exile in Saudi Arabia.

Fighting between Republicans and Royalists loyal to the Imam appeared to have stopped throughout the country while thousands of tribesmen streamed into Sanaa, the capital, for a national congress to unite the nation. At the height of the civil war, Egypt is said to have poured 50,000 men, planes and armour to bolster the beleaguered Socialist ■ leaning Republicans against the marauding Royalist tribes loyal to El Badr and backed by Saudi Arabia. But Royalist tribes were expected to be represented in the national congress along with tribes supporting the Republicans and delegates of other factions and groups. The congress is empowered to elect a Constituent Assembly which will elect a President. He in turn will choose a Prime Minister, according to present plans. Republican President Abdul Rahman El Iriani and the Prime Minister, Hassan al Amri, will resign during the congress, reports from Sanaa said. . Observers said the programme appeared to follow the lines of a 1966 attempt by some moderate Republican leaders, tired of the fighting, to convene a National Congress with the Royalists taking part to end the war.

The 1966 bid was crushed by Egypt with the arrest of several Yemeni Republican leaders, including Government ministers, as they arrived in Cairo, apparently in an attempt to get Egyptian approval.

Before the 1967 ArabIsraeli war, Egypt appeared intent to spread her influence in the Arabian Peninsula to bring “Arab socialism” to the doorstep of King Feisal of Saudi Arabia, United Press International said.