On Tuesday, Brigadier General Ahmed Saleh refused orders to hand over long-range missiles to the Defence Ministry, raising fears of showdown that threatens a fragile transition agreed in February. The United States and Yemen's Gulf neighbours fear political instability in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula state will allow a branch of al Qaeda based there to strike at top oil exporter Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping lanes.
The Republican Guard, the best-equipped of Yemen's military units, is seen as important in efforts to contain al Qaeda and Islamist groups that took over towns in the south this year. Former president Saleh, who was pushed from power in February after more than a year of protests, was granted immunity from prosecution and is seen by some Yemeni politicians as attempting to retain influence.