Yemen President: This Is a Secret US-Israeli Plot

The president of Yemen lashed out at the US and Israel today and accused them of secretly controlling the democratic uprisings in the Arab world, the Los Angeles Times reports. Ali Abdullah Saleh, a key ally of the US in the war on al-Qaeda and the recipient of billions in international aid toward that end, wasn't talking like much of an ally:

• "Every day we hear a statement from Obama saying, 'Egypt you can't do this, Tunisia don't do that.' What do you have to do with Egypt? Or with Oman? Are you president of the United States or president of the world?"
• "I am going to reveal a secret. There is an operations room in Tel Aviv with the aim of destabilizing the Arab world. The operations room is in Tel Aviv and run by the White House."

He spoke as protests against him gathered momentum, with a former mentor of Osama bin Laden leading the charge, notes the New York Times. For the latest on Libya's unrest, click here. (More Yemen stories.)