Yemen's Saleh not going quietly

SANAA, Yemen, April 17 (UPI) -- Former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh isn't letting go of power and may launch a campaign to "bring down the building of change," a defense official said.

Abdu Rabo Mansour Hadi won a one-man presidential election in Yemen in February. His election followed a decision by Saleh to sign a deal in late 2011 to step down following nearly a year of protests in Yemen.

The U.N. Security Council in March called on Yemeni authorities to settle differences and prepare for general election in 2014 after some political figures threatened to join the southern secessionist movement after Hadi's victory.

A high-ranking official in the Defense Ministry told the Yemen Post that the more Saleh felt marginalized, the worse the security situation in the country could become.

"Saleh will not let go of power easily," the official said on condition of anonymity. "Though President Hadi is attempting to cut off the wings of Saleh aides, a time will come when Saleh will attempt to bring down the building of change and hope in Yemen."

In early April, a senior White House official told the Los Angeles Times on condition of anonymity that Washington wasn't keen on getting involved in Yemen's "internal battles."