Context
Qatar on Thursday pulled out of a Gulf plan to resolve the ongoing crisis in Yemen due to President Saleh’s unwillingness to sign an agreement that would see him resign in exchange for a guarantee of immunity. Qatar’s decision was also motivated by the fact that the Yemeni government has stepped up its crackdown on pro-democracy activists, leaving two-dozen people dead and scores injured this week. Qatar’s pullout from the plan could put fresh pressure on Saleh. It might also indicate that a cautiously planned diplomatic initiative- led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia- has collapsed.
