The Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday to participate in twinning projects in the Gulf Cooperation Council, a proposal aimed at ending months of political crisis in Yemen, Yemeni officials said.
When Saleh signed an agreement of the executive powers to the Vice President Abdo Rabu Mansour Hadi, “with immediate effect,” Mohammed Albasha, a spokesman for the Yemeni Embassy in Washington, said in a statement.
- Yemeni President Arrived in Saudi Arabia
“This historic agreement, which will hopefully put an end to the agitation of 10 long months in the country,” said Albasha.
Last week, he told France 24 television that Saleh will leave its place “90 days” an agreement with the Council.
The GCC has proposed a settlement corridor, which is supported by the United States and the European Union, Saleh give up his power in exchange for immunity from prosecution.
Members of the opposition is present at the signing ceremony, officials said.
Yemeni women burned the veil in protest of the young Arab Spring
“The opposition will be in Riyadh today,” said Wajeeh Sakhr, a senior official of the opposition. “We hope our trip will be the last and the beginning of a change of regime.”
Saleh has appeared several times on the point agreed to relinquish power, only to change direction.
But he insisted in an interview with France 24, he had no desire to “cling to power.”
“I know the difficulties the negative, positive. I will not cling to power one who clings to power, I think it’s crazy, “he said.
Yemen has been the scene of violent protests for months as the opposition demanded Saleh to leave office after 33 years in office.
It ‘was wounded in an attack on his compound earlier this year and spent a week in Saudi Arabia treat burns.
International jurisdiction, including the United States, led him to resign.
Government troops responded with live ammunition on demonstrators, killing many people, doctors and opposition sources.
On Saturday, jumped 400 soldiers from military service in Yemen, said they would no longer attack the unarmed demonstrators.
Source:http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/23/world/meast/yemen-unrest/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
