When I first met Ali Salem al-Beidh in June last year, I was struck by the enthusiasm and energy of the 73-year-old. In his office in Beirut, the former President of South Yemen gave orders to subordinates, joked and spoke about the south in a passionate and powerful manner, belying his septuagenarian status. Yet when I met him again six months later for this Executive interview, I was struck by the thought that I could be among the last journalists to speak with him before his death. As I entered we carried out the traditional Arabic greeting of kissing each other on the cheek three times, yet only my head moved — his appeared too weak to do so. As we sat chatting, he struggled to hold himself up and his face was pale. Yet he denied claims that he is sick, saying “Thanks be to god my health is
