By Nic Robertson, CNN Sr. International Correspondent

In an exclusive interview Wednesday, Yemen’s Vice President Abdu Rabu Mansoor Hadi told me security in his country is “deteriorating.” He said in many of those provinces the government is battling al Qaeda who have gone on the offensive as the government battles calls for its ouster.

Hadi told me five provinces had fallen beyond the government’s control. That sounds alarming, but one Western diplomat in the capital believes it is actually optimistic. “I think it’s more than five,” the diplomat said. 
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