World | Yemen Army Commanders Defect in Yemen President's key confidante switches to opposition By Matt Cantor Posted Mar 21, 2011 6:44 AM CDT Copied Anti-government protestors carry the body of a demonstrator who was killed on Friday's clashes with Yemeni security forces, during his funeral procession in Sanaa,Yemen, Sunday, March 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) Tanks and armored vehicles have been deployed in Yemen’s capital as support for the country's president continues to erode: Three army commanders have defected to the opposition, the AP reports. The officers are members of the president’s tribe, which called for his resignation yesterday. Among them is a top general who has been a 32-year confidante of President Ali Abdullah Saleh; the commander sent a message announcing his defection to protest leaders at Sanaa square. Read These Next An undersea cable that changed our world is coming up. Boebert defends leaking Hillary Clinton photo. Baby born deep in Amazon rainforest is 'a source of hope.' The Lancet unloaded on Robert Kennedy Jr. in an editorial. Report an error