Gulf states press Saleh to quit

Gulf states piled the pressure on Yemen’s embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh yesterday, announcing they expect him to quit following more than two months of bloody protests.

Members of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) “hope to reach a deal with the Yemeni president to step down,” Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani said.

On Wednesday, Mr Saleh welcomed Gulf mediation, according to state news agency Saba, which said he “affirmed the necessity of a serious and fruitful dialogue to overcome the current crisis.”

The exit plan offered to Mr Saleh would see him hand power over to his deputy, while providing guarantees of protection to him and his family, the opposition says.

A diplomat in Sanaa confirmed the content of the proposal, adding that it includes forming a national unity government led by the opposition.

The offer resembles one the opposition itself made at the weekend calling for Mr Saleh to make way for Vice President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi to head a caretaker regime. A Yemeni opposition leader said yesterday that any efforts to help usher Saleh out of office were “naturally welcome.”

“The ball is in Saleh’s court and any developments resulting from any delay would be his responsibility,” said Mohammed al-Sabri, a leading figure in the opposition Common Forum.

Tension was high in Sanaa yesterday, with army units supporting the protesters camped near Sanaa University, while the Republican Guard, which has remained loyal to Mr Saleh, was on high alert.

Streets were closed to traffic and checkpoints had multiplied in Sanaa, which is almost divided in half by rival forces, ahead of another day of demonstrations the government has dubbed a “day of reconciliation.”

Mr Saleh, a close US and Saudi ally in power since 1978, has faced nationwide protests since late January calling for his departure and around 125 people have been killed.

Despite Mr Saleh being a key US partner in its fight against Al-Qaeda, Washington condemned the heavy-handed response by security forces to protests in the cities of Taez and Hudaydah, where around 20 demonstrators were shot dead this week.