SANAA, Yemen — Yemen's embattled president has appeared publicly for the first time since he was in injured in a blast at his palace compound early last month.
In a brief video aired on Yemen state TV, Ali Abdullah Saleh lashed out Thursday at those who have sought to drive him from power, saying they have an "incorrect understanding of democracy."
More than four months of popular uprising seeking to push the longtime ruler from power have shaken the impoverished corner of the Arabian Peninsula.
Saleh has been in treatment in Saudi Arabia since June 5.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
SANAA, Yemen (AP) – Suspected al-Qaida militants killed 10 Yemeni soldiers after stopping them at a fake checkpoint in the country's restive south, security officials said Thursday.
The militants ordered the soldiers off a bus as they returned from leave to rejoin their units and shot them execution style, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media.
The Wednesday killings show the growing strength of Islamic militants across Yemen, where security has largely collapsed during more than four months of mass protests seeking to oust President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Islamists have seized control of two towns in the southern province of Abyan, where Wednesday's attacks occurred. For weeks, Yemeni forces have fought unsuccessfully to push them out of Zinjibar and Jaar, leading to regular casualties on both sides.
Yemen state TV said it would broadcast a recorded message later Thursday from Saleh, who left the country for treatment in neighboring Saudi Arabia after he was injured in a rocket attack on his palace in early June.
Saleh has not been seen publicly since the attack, sparking widespread speculation about the severity of his wounds. He last address the nation in an audio recording on Yemen state TV shortly before he flew to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment June 5.
Yemeni officials said last week that Saleh remains bedridden and has difficulty breathing and talking. Still, his aides insist he will soon return to Yemen.
On Tuesday, the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, said Saleh's health is "generally good."
A ruling party leader close to Saleh said the new message was recorded Thursday in a Saudi hospital. Yasser Yemani said he had seen the video and that Saleh uses it to "reassure the people about his health."
Yemani said Saleh also uses to the video to support a U.S.-backed peace initiative proposed by Yemeni's Gulf Arab neighbors as the only way to end the country's political crisis.
Before leaving the country, Saleh repeatedly refused to sign the proposal after saying he would.
Yemani said it had not yet been decided if both the audio and video of the message would be aired, or just coothe audio.
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