Son of assassinated Yemeni ex-president vows revenge

The son of Yemeni ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was assassinated on Monday by Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels after he switched sides against them, is quoted as calling for revenge on Tuesday by the Saudi-owned al-Ekbariya TV. The Saudi-led coalition was counting on Saleh to give them an edge in the deadlocked conflict, which has led to one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. After ruling in Sanaa from 1978-2012, the assassinated leader had a wide following, including army officers and armed tribal leaders. The next stage of the war will depend on where they go next. His son Ahmed Ali was held until now under house arrest and incommunicado in the UAE. His first public statement and vow of revenge are seen as a call to that following, allowed by Riyadh, to follow in his father’s footsteps.