Yemen\'s GPC: five behind assassination attempt

Al-Nahdayn Mosque after bombings The official spokesperson of Yemen\'s ruling General People\'s Congress party (GPC), Abdu al-Janadi revealed on Wednesday five names suspected to be behind targeted attacks on former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and other figures of the GPC. The bombings took place on June 3 last year, in the al-Nahdayn Mosque within the presidential palace, during the height of Yemen\'s popular uprising.
Janadi revealed the names of the five minor officers, believed to be part of Saleh\'s special guard forces. Saleh and other GPC leaders had earlier directed their accusations towards specific political and military figures belonging to the opposition, in particular with allegiances to general Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, who in March last year led a military faction against Saleh\'s regime during the early stages of the revolt against the former Yemeni president. The accusations have also been levied against the four sons of the former parliament head, Sheikh Abdullah al-Ahmar.
Janadi listed the names of the suspected officers as: Abdelraqib Modhesh, Abdelrahman al-Washah, Fadl Zayban and Mohammed Ahmed Olwan, who are believed to have belonged to Saleh\'s special guards forces. Janadi said there are also other figures who incited the accused five to carry out the attacks, but he didn\'t reveal their names. He also added that those who were wounded in the explosion intend to prosecuted all those they believed responsible for the attack.  
In a related development, the GPC spokesperson denied calling for Saleh\'s resignation from his position as chairman of the party, saying his comments on the issue were taken out of context. The spokesman said: \"Saleh must move towards a position similar to great leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Gandhi. However that doesn\'t mean that he has to step down from his official position in the party\".
Janadi confirmed that the next general congress of the party will be attended by president Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi, who is also the GPC\'s deputy chairman. Hadi has not attended any of the party\'s meetings after he was elected president, as it is believed that he didn\'t want to appear partisan while working under the former president\'s authority.
Political sources in Yemen told Arabstoday that the GPC\'s eighth congress is expected to witness the election of president Hadi as a new chairman for the party, as well as new changes to the party\'s structure.