This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011.

Today's main headline in Yemen was the sudden departure of Vice President Abdu Rabbu Mansoor Hadi to the US for medical treatment. The timing of the trip coincides with the UN's envoy Ben Omar and GCC's Secretary General Al Zayani's visit to Yemen soon.

As @samwaddah noted:

So if VP Hadi is heading to US, Who are Zayyani & Bin Omer gonna negotiate with? Something is fishy! #Yemen #SupportYemen

Many considered the trip as a new maneuver by the regime to further delay the transition of power with the absence of the VP, who is the person who will be signing the already popularly rejected GCC deal.

@brrhom also tweeted the same concern:

VP Hadi to USA, Aleryani to Europe… What about the #GCC initiative bit.ly/vqMrRm #Yemen

@Ghanem_M asked:

Did Hadi (VP) delegate #Saleh to sign the #GCC initative before he traveled to #US.. #Yemen

The state news agency SABA, announced that Hadi was travelling for a scheduled routine medical check-up in the US.

@Yemen411 tweeted the official regime line :

#Yemen Vice President Hadi enroute to #USA for his annual medical checkup @ Cleveland Clinic's Cardiology Department

@samwaddah sarcastically added what some skeptics thought was a defection rather than a routine medical trip :

I doubt VP Hadi will return 2 #Yemen which puts a new obstacle on the way of the already puzzled GCC deal!The search 4 Amina (the word “safe” in Arabic is also used as name of a woman, Amina/Aminah, which many Yemeni have joked about the topic) shall continue!

@Yemen411 clarified:

H.E. Vice President #Hadi (#YEMEN) arrived to the #USA for a private, medical “non-working” short visit

@ameerah1yemenia tweeted what many feel about Yemen's deficient health services:

@Yemen411 This is Sad when in #Yemen not even the average citizen can get a descent Annual check-up in Yemen but also the VP 2?!

@Nefermaat also added:

Hadi going to US for medical reason: proof that our health system is SO bad tht even officials,VP and pres cant be treated here in #Yemen !!

A cartoon depicting the GCC deal tailor made to fit president Saleh

Under the terms of the GCC proposal which has been amended many times to suit President Saleh, he would transfer his power to VP Hadi before announcing his official resignation. President Saleh had refused to transfer power allegedly because he wanted to find “safe hands,” or in Arabic “ayadi aminah.” So with VP Hadi away, it seems the GCC saga will drag further until the uncertain return of “Aminah”.

@samwaddah stated what is obvious to many:

VP Hadi's absence benefits #Saleh the most. Signing the GCC deal will be delayed so long as Hadi or Saleh's so called Aminah's absent #Yemen

This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011.