IONA CRAIG: Well, certainly the scenes of celebration here this morning and this afternoon, as word spread that Saleh had left for Saudi Arabia. And there's been a lot of dancing and cheering and shouting. But protesters here are determined that he will not come back, and that this is a new period of change for them.
LYDEN: Iona, what do we know about Saleh's injuries?
CRAIG: Initially, the injuries that he sustained were said to be more superficial. But those reports seemed to have underestimated his injuries. And yesterday, it appeared that he suffered shrapnel wounds to his neck, and reports that had a shrapnel lodged close to his heart that was affecting his breathing. Although it does appear that he actually walked off the plane in Riyadh, but those wounds were apparently visible as he departed the airplane.
LYDEN: What was Saudi Arabia's role these past few days?
CRAIG: But after the sun came up this morning, certainly it has been quite in San'a, suggesting that ceasefire may have worked. But also, Saudi Arabia has been heavily involved in the GCC deal, which has been no Gulf-brokered a deal for attempt to transition of power from Saleh to his vice president over the last two months.
LYDEN: Now, for to months, President Saleh has said that he won't step down despite intense pressure in Yemen and from the international community. Do you think it's possible that he won't return?
CRAIG: He's claimed that chaos would rain without him and that the country would fall into the hands of al-Qaida. Now he is gone, it would be interesting to see if that chaos does come about. And that he may then try and return to restore calm and fulfill his self-proclaimed prophecy.
LYDEN: Are his sons still in the country, as far as you know?
CRAIG: Certainly the head of the Republican Guard is still here today, Ahmad Ali is still here. And he was supposed to be meeting with vice president who is now in charge. But the Republican Guard has been reportedly been involved in clashes in the highland city of Taiz, about 130 miles from here. So it may be that he will be trying to assert general authority, as the situation now that his father is gone.
LYDEN: Now, speaking of the vice president, Yemen's Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi met today with the U.S. Ambassador. What can you tell us about that meeting?
CRAIG: Yeah, under the constitution and also under plans of the GCC deal, he is now in charge here. He does gather some support from the opposition as well as from the ruling party. But he is a fairly insignificant character here in Yemen, despite the fact that he's held the position of vice president since 1994.
LYDEN: Thank you very much.
CRAIG: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.