Yemen defections shake government rule

Three army commanders, including a top general defected saying they are now with the protesters calling for the end of Ali Abdullah Saleh's thirty year rule.

The move came as thousands took to the streets of Sanaa on Friday to mourn the deaths of protesters killed by sniper fire.

The most senior to defect is Major General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, a long-time confidant of Saleh, along with Bridadiers Ali Mohsin Saleh and Hameed Al-Qushaibi.

Also in recent days, the most prominent tribal council has thrown its lot with the protest movement and a number of newly appointed cabinet ministers have resigned.

But will these mass defections, be enough to force a peaceful handover of power? Or in a country still recovering from years of civil war is this divide a spark for another one?

Inside Story, with presenter Mike Hanna, discusses with guests: Hassan Nafaa, a professor and Chairman of Political Science Department at Cairo University; Khaled Fahmy, a professor and Chair of the Department of History at the American University in Cairo and in Washington DC, Mark Perry, he's a Foreign Affairs Analyst.

This episode of Inside Story aired from Monday, March 21, 2011.

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