Yemen leader purges army of ex-regime loyalists

SANAA, Yemen – Yemen's newly appointed president has fired scores of old-regime loyalists in a major shake-up of the country's military.

President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's move on Friday followed concerns that his predecessor was using the loyalists to destabilize the country. A statement from Hadi's office says four governors and over a dozen military generals were sacked to make way for new officials.

It's a significant blow to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who had clung to power during last year's uprising until he eventually signed a U.S.-backed power transfer deal.

Among those replaced are some of Saleh's relatives, including his half brother who was air force commander and his nephew, who headed the presidential guard.