Sanaa, August 30: Yemen’s Ali Abdullah Saleh says he is ready to conditionally sign an agreement proposed by a regional Arab alliance as a potential means of diffusing the political crisis in the country.
After backing out of inking the deal three times, Saleh claimed on Monday that he would put his signature on the proposal drafted by the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council ([P]GCC), Xinhua reported.
The plan, which was forwarded by the [P]GCC in April, grants Saleh immunity from prosecution on the condition that he steps down within 30 days of signing the deal. The opposition would then be tasked with forming a national unity government with his ruling General People’s Congress party.
Saleh, however, said he would only sign the deal in exchange for the establishment of an executive mechanism that would pave the way for “electing a new president for Yemen.”
He has already been in office for more than 30 years with several opposition members arguing that his long-promised reforms have not been implemented.
Also on Monday, he urged the ruling party to start talks with the opposition, the [P]GCC, the United States, and the European Union to implement the deal.
Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out for regular protest rallies in Yemen’s major cities since late January, calling for an end to corruption and unemployment while demanding Saleh’s ouster.
The demonstrators have rejected the [P]GCC’s plan on numerous occasions and accused their Arab neighbors of meddling in their country’s internal affairs.
The developments come as Saleh continues to receive treatment in Saudi Arabia for injuries he received in an attack on his presidential palace on June 3.
——Agencies