What's Up in Yemen?

Protests erupted in Yemen early this year. Yemenis' grievances include abject poverty, dwindling oil and water supplies, widespread government corruption, intolerance of dissent, and Saleh's acceptance of US drone strikes on Yemeni targets. Saleh offered to step down at the end of his current term (2013) but has repeatedly reneged on an agreement brokered by the GCC* under which he'd resign and abdicate power within 30 days in exchange for immunity from charges related to corruption and deaths of protesters over the past four months.

Saleh has insisted that he will not allow Yemen to become a "failed state." This, despite the fact that armed gunmen have taken over the coastal city of Zanjibar and there are reports of all-out warfare in the streets of Taiz (south) and the capital of Sanaa'. Not to mention the fact that the royal palace got blown up, severely injuring the president. Crowds cheered in the streets after news circulated that Saleh had been flown to Saudi Arabia to seek treatment for his wounds. Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the vice president originally from the South, is now Yemeni acting president. Huge crowds continue to mass in Yemen to demand the formation of an interim government--without Saleh, any of his sons, or Hadi.  The current international speculation is on whether Saleh will attempt to return to continue his rule following treatment of his injuries or stay in exile in Saudi Arabia. There have also been hints that Saleh's injuries may be much more severe than initially reported. BBC Article

US Concerns and Response. Saleh has repeatedly warned that his departure would be a victory for radical Islamists--specifically al-Qaeda. Opposition leaders have dismissed that claim as fear-mongering. The White House has expressed its support for the GCC proposal. As fighting intensifies, it seems the US officials have come to the conclusion that Saleh's presence offers no more of a deterrent for potential terrorist activity than his absence.

Summary. There are still deep divisions between North and South. When the two sides reunified in 1990, the majority of citizens on both sides supported it. That may not be the case any longer. If Saleh does remain in Saudi Arabia (or succumbs to his wounds), whoever assumes the mantle of control will inherit a lot of "opportunities." He (I'm assuming it'll be a he) will have to deal with Saleh loyalists, Northern opposition groups, Southern separatists who want their own country back, clansmen who don't really want to have to answer to anyone but themselves, and Islamists who certainly have their own agenda. The US will be looking to throw its support behind someone who can maintain control over all of these groups, and crack down harshly on any radical elements. I don't have any clue who that might be at this point. Suggestions?

*GCC- Gulf Cooperation Countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE