Yemen opposition calls West to freeze Saleh assets

ADEN: A leading member of Yemen's opposition called on Western countries to freeze the assets of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is clinging to power despite months of protest against his 33-year rule.

Sheikh Hamid al-Ahmar, a key tribal figure belongs to Yemen's main opposition party said, "I call on Western states to begin proceedings to seize the possessions and money of Saleh and his family, because they belong to the Yemeni people," in an interview with pan Arab daily al-Hayat, adding those funds could be used to repay the country's debts.

The protests have paralysed the impoverished Arabian Peninsula state, where even before the unrest some 40 percent of the population lived on less than $2 per day.

Governments worldwide have responded to crackdowns on Egyptian, Tunisian and Libyan protesters this year by freezing their long-time leaders' assets.

Copyright Reuters, 2011