Ahmad al-Ghashmi

Ahmad bin Hussein al-Ghashmi (21 August 1935 – 24 June 1978) (أحمد حسين الغشمي) was the fourth President of the Yemen Arab Republic from 11 October 1977 until his assassination eight months later. Al-Ghashmi had assumed power when his predecessor, Ibrahim al-Hamdi, was assassinated.

Early life and career
Ahmad (Ahmed) al-Ghashmi was born in Hamdan District, Sanaa Governorate. According to some sources he was born in 1938, but according to others he was born in 1941.

After the coup d'état of September 26, 1962, the North Yemen Civil War (1962-1970) began. Al-Gashmi took part in it on the side of Abdullah al-Sallal against Muhammad al-Badr.

By the time Ibrahim al-Hamdi was president of Yemen, al-Gashmi was vice president of the Leadership Council and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.

On 11 October 1977, al-Hamdi was assassinated and al-Gashmi took over the country. A man believed to be a Saudi agent was accused of assassinating the president. Al-Gashmi himself was also suspected.

Activities as President
President al-Ghashmi reinstated the 1970 Constitution, which had previously been suspended by al-Hamdi, the country's previous President, in 1974. However, an important body such as the Consultative Council was not reinstated, and at the same time the office of the President was introduced.

He appointed Ali Abdullah Saleh as military governor in Taiz, who became the next president.

Death
His assassination occurred on 24 June 1978 when he was meeting an envoy sent by People's Democratic Republic of Yemen President, Salim Rubai Ali. A briefcase, reportedly containing a secret message, exploded, killing both al-Ghashmi and the envoy. It is not conclusively known who set off the explosion.

Coincidentally, Rubai Ali died in a coup three days after this event.