By Iona Craig, Los Angeles Times, May 29, 2011

Reporting from Sana, Yemen—

The political opposition blames President Ali Abdullah Saleh for losing control of Zinjibar; some even allege it's a set-up. But others fear Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has taken advantage of months of protests to gain ground.

Also see: 

Yemen Opposition Accuses President of Handing City to al-Qaida
By Edward Yeranian, Voice of America News, May 29, 2011

Top Yemeni opposition leaders are accusing embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh of handing the provincial capital of Zinjibar to al-Qaida militants, after fighters from the group seized the town overnight.

And:

Yemen opposition 'willing to tackle al-Qaeda'
Al Jazeera, May 29, 2011

Yemen's opposition would be willing to sign an agreement with the West to combat al-Qaeda in Yemen, if Ali Abdullah Saleh, the country's president, steps down, according to an opposition official. Speaking to Al Jazeera on Sunday, Abdel Rahman Ba Fadel, a member of Yemen's opposition Islah party, said that the country's opposition had contacted the office of the US ambassador in Yemen to this effect....