Yemeni President Agrees to Plan to Step Down

 VOA News ?April 23, 2011

Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh adjusts his glasses during a rally in Sana'a, April 22, 2011

Yemeni government officials say President Ali Abdullah Saleh has agreed to a proposal from Gulf Arab mediators that calls for him to transfer power and resign within 30 days.

Officials said Saturday that the government had informed the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) of President Saleh's acceptance of the plan, which calls for him to leave office after 30 years of rule.? In exchange, Mr. Saleh, his family and senior aides will be granted immunity from prosecution. ?

The plan also calls for President Saleh to transfer power to a deputy, who would then call presidential elections.? The plan also sought to form a unity government in which ruling party members would hold half the seats, 40 percent would be held by an opposition coalition, with the rest made up of unaffiliated parties.

GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif al-Zayani presented the plan to Mr. Saleh on Thursday, in a bid to end Yemen's anti-government unrest.

A coalition of seven opposition parties said they also accepted the deal but with reservations.? The opposition leaders refused to join the unity government while Mr. Saleh was still in office.

Meanwhile, many Yemenis across the country observed a general strike on Saturday to protest against President Saleh's rule.? Some gathered for peaceful protests. ?

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Washington welcomes the proposal for ending the crisis and called for immediate dialogue by all sides on a transfer of power.

On Friday, thousands of opposition activists rallied across Yemen, where they repeated calls for President Saleh's immediate resignation.

On Saturday, President Saleh accused his opponents of trying to drag the country into civil war.? He also called former ruling party members who had resigned and joined the opposition "symbols of corruption."

He commented during a speech to armed forces academy students in Sana'a.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.

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and discuss them on our Facebook page. 23-04-2011 Al (USA)

Did I hear that Saudi Arabia and othe Gulf states brokered a deal which allows Yemenis' President to step down and go with impunity? Did they mention "election"? Well, it is a mockery of democracy that Saudi Arabia and gulf states talk about elections and democrcy. They should conduct elections in their respective countries and forget about others. The are tyranical like President Saleh.

23-04-2011 Citizen (Cyber Space, W.W.W.)

The man agrees to PLAN to step down? I have never seen or heard such a statement, to plan to step down. The fact is he is transferring his money around. An individual from Swiss major bank told they have never been as busy as since the eruption of the Uprising in the Arab world. Some are withdrawing their money others are tranferring to smaller banks, while some are looking for more security to their money. President Saleh and his antourage are doing their level best to avoid getting caught.

24-04-2011 Al (USA)

For so long the western world has deluded the world in their drive for democracy for all. At the same time the west has allowed dictators from all corners of the world to steal and personalize resources of their improvished peoples and stashed those stolen wealths in western banks. Does the west have any moral standing or credibility? I doubt that the west's noise about democracy is really about democracy. It is all about Interest .

24-04-2011

Good decision Mr. Ali Abdullah Saleh......now you can prepare to leave Yemen for a comfortable exile in a warm and friendly country with your ill gotten gains! So what if your are years late? And as your legacy you leave political prisoners, dead bodies, broken families, chaos and a Al Qaida takeover! Congratulations!!

24-04-2011 Al (USA)

President Obama, there is need to be unequivocal about protests in Libya and Syria. Why you don't say anything daily protests in Saudi arabia and Bahrain. I don't understand why we hold Saudi Arabia in different standard. Saudi Arabia and bahrain have the most political prisoners in the middle east. Saudi Arabia does not have citizens but rather subjects of the king.

24-04-2011 Edwin Kaliku, PhD. FSI (USA / AFRICA)

AI (USA) You are very correct The west just has interest not exactly democrazy. The West give the poor countries just a little fro the interest they make from our money and call it AID or assistance. If only they can return our money, we do not need public aid or assistance from them.

24-04-2011 umsomi olomnyathi (zimbabwe)

yes it is an insult for saudi arabia to talk of democracy, it is like mugabe talking of democracy, it is double stabdards. mugabe, yemeni gadaffi should just leave power, period. at least some mps in zanu pf have seen sense and are now turning against the octagenerian. they should see sense, they are young and have a life, mugabe is gone and teurai is a better devil.

24-04-2011 sebale robert (uganda)

Mr Saleh deserves not only prosecution immunity but also approse for such a great leason he has offered to other notorious african presidents like Museveni of uganda and that of libya who wait to step down redicurously.

24-04-2011 Yamani (Yemen)

Where is the turn of Gulf Countries? it seems that plan is imposed by president Saleh not by them and it gives save exit for Saleh and his family as well as his allies, with no guarantee from Gulf countries if Saleh violates the plan. They are just mediators and U.S is a witness.

24-04-2011 culture

Tunis' fire is burning more and more fierce across Africa and the Middle East.Many of dictators cannot sit on their chairs firmly. more and more people ruled by dictatorship are awaking.

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