Yemen president has throat problem

[June 14, 2011]  SANAA, Yemen (AP) -- A senior Yemeni official in the Saudi capital says President Ali Abdullah Saleh has developed a problem with his throat but that his overall condition is stable.

Saleh is being treated in Riyadh along with several to government officials wounded in a rocket attack on the mosque where they were praying in the presidential compound on June 3.

In a telephone conversation with The Associated Press on Tuesday, the official said he could not identify the nature of the throat problem, and would not be named because of the sensitive nature of the information.

The prime minister was badly burned. His condition is "tragic," the official said. The Shura Council speaker is critical, lost his left eye and will be treated further in London. One deputy prime minister lost his left leg. The other deputy was stable.

[Associated Press; By AHMED AL-HAJ]

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