Sallal, 'Abd Allah as-

▪ 1995

      Yemeni army officer and politician (b. 1917?, San'a`, Yemen—d. March 5, 1994, San'a`), was the first president and prime minister of the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) after having led a military coup against the last imam, Saif al-Islam Muhammad al-Badr, on Sept. 27, 1962; Sallal himself was overthrown on Nov. 5, 1967. As a youth Sallal was selected by the monarchy for special military training in Iraq. On his return to Yemen in 1939, he was briefly imprisoned for political reasons. He later spent seven years in jail (1948-55), but he was released by then Crown Prince Badr, who made him governor of Hodeida (1959-61) and promoted him to brigadier. When Badr succeeded to the throne on Sept. 18, 1962, he appointed Sallal chief of staff. Within 10 days a military coup had overthrown the monarchy and installed Sallal as president, with Egyptian military, political, and economic aid. His rule became increasingly tenuous, however, as royalist forces, supported by Saudi Arabia, continued to promote civil unrest. When Egypt withdrew its backing in 1967, moderate republicans staged a bloodless coup while Sallal was on a visit to Iraq. He did not return to Yemen from exile until 1981.

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