By Nehal El-Sherif, dpa
Cairo/Sana'a (dpa) - Abdul Rahim Alsamie was one of millions of Yemenis taken aback by the sudden return of President Ali Abdullah Saleh to the country on Friday, after spending more than three months recovering in Saudi Arabia.
"He sneaked into the country under cover of darkness," said Alsamei. "Right after the news was announced, the shelling on protesters began, leaving seven people injured."
After Friday's weekly prayers, Alsamie was joined by thousands in the southern city of Taiz for the funeral and burial of one of his relatives. He was one of several killed when government forces shelled the city centre with heavy artillery over recent days.
"Despite Saleh's abrupt return, people now are more resolved than ever to continue their path," he said.
Saleh arrived in Sana'a early Friday, following a week of bloody clashes in Yemen that left more than 100 people dead, mainly in the capital, after violence began on Sunday.
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Anti-Saleh protests started in February, and were met with a violent crackdown that left hundreds dead. According to Alsamie, a recent list gathered by doctors and activists showed that 687 people had died across Yemen since the unrest began.
An attack on Saleh's presidential palace in early June forced him to seek medical help in the neighbouring ally, Saudi Arabia.
In a country of 23 million people, few believe that Saleh returned from Riyadh to rescue a situation that had deteriorated under his son Ahmed, who leads the Republican Guard forces and has been blamed for most of the violence occurring in Sana'a and Taiz.
A diplomat based in Beirut, who has close links with officials in Riyadh, said the president's 42-year-old son had refused a request by vice president Abd-Rabu Mansur Hadi to withdraw troops from the streets of Sana'a, as part of a fragile ceasefire with opposition.
"Saleh is now locked up in a dispute with his close family, which has rejected his bid to leave power and hand it over to Hadi," he said.
"Saleh's surprise return to the country will no doubt inflame battles between forces loyal to him and his opponents, and lead the country to unknown future," the diplomat added.
While many houses in Sana'a suffer from recurrent power cuts, the news of Saleh's reappearance was spread by the sound of gunfire, as supporters celebrated his return.
They took to the streets near his presidential compound carrying his picture, singing and dancing from the early morning.
"I am so happy, I was dancing everywhere," one woman told the state-run television.
But others were in shock, as they never expected that he would return.
"We ask ourselves if he is coming back with Saudi Arabian and US instructions to solve the crisis. But we all know his military, tribal background, meaning he probably came back with the spirit of revenge," Taiz-based activist Abdu Ali told the German Press Agency dpa.
After the initial surprise, many decided to roll up their sleeves for more fighting against government troops.
"Now Saleh is more capable of violence and less apt to dialogue and stepping down," said activist Shatha al-Harazi.
She believes that the Gulf-brokered deal has now been shelved, and sees his return as a new manoeuvre and a challenge to the will of the people.
Saleh has repeatedly refused to sign the deal, brokered by the six countries comprising the Gulf Cooperation Council, although it offers him immunity against prosecution and aims to ensure a peaceful transition of power in the country.
The opposition Joint Meeting Parties have signed the agreement, yet protesters rejected it, saying Saleh should be tried for the killing of protesters.
"His return will not change the young people's minds, it will just make it easier for us to put him on trial," she added.
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