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Yemen: Political talks open as Saleh recovers in Riyadh Yemen: Parties deny holding talks as Saleh recovers
(about 4 hours later)
Yemen's ruling party has opened talks with the country's main opposition coalition following the departure of President Ali Abdullah Saleh to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. Yemen's ruling party has denied having held talks with the opposition bloc since President Ali Abdullah Saleh flew to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment.
Protesters have called on Vice-President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi to form a presidential council to seek a solution to the crisis in the country. Abdul Hafiz al-Narhari, deputy head of information at the General People's Congress, said no discussions with the Joint Meeting Party had taken place.
Violence has erupted recently following months of protest against Mr Saleh. Earlier, sources told the BBC officials were attempting to end the impasse over a deal for the president to step down.
He was severely wounded in a rocket attack on his Sanaa compound on Friday. Mr Saleh was badly wounded in a rocket attack on his Sanaa compound on Friday.
Official sources told the BBC that the talks in the capital, between the ruling General People's Congress (GPC) and the opposition Joint Meeting Party (JMP), were the first of its kind. Sources close to the 69-year-old leader said he might need months to recover from burns that reportedly cover 40% of his body. But they also said he was in good spirits.
The JMP includes the Islamist Islah party, socialists, Nasserists and some newer independent parties. The government had announced he would return within a week.
The talks aim to find ways to reach a political solution, but details of the expected duration or specific areas of negotiation remain unclear, says the BBC's Lina Sinjab in Sanaa. Friday's attack on the presidential compound killed seven people and also wounded the prime minister, his deputy and the Speaker of the lower house of parliament. They are in Riyadh with Mr Saleh.
The move comes as thousands of Yemenis hold rallies outside the residence of Vice-President Hadi, Yemen's acting leader, demanding the formation of a transitional national council. Presidential council call
On Wednesday, government forces backed by armoured vehicles dispersed a crowd that had gathered just metres from Mr Hadi's home, says BBC Arabic's Abdallah Ghorab in Sanaa. On Wednesday morning, sources told the BBC that officials from the General People's Congress and Joint Meeting Party - which includes the Islamist Islah party, socialists, Nasserists and some newer independent parties - had met for the first time.
Witnesses said soldiers had beaten up and arrested a number of protesters, and dismantled tents erected there on Tuesday. The sources said the participants hoped to find a political solution to the crisis, which began in January with protesters demanding the president's resignation but escalated in the past fortnight with government forces and heavily-armed tribesman involved in pitched battles in the capital.
Injured leader More than 200 people were killed in the fighting between security forces and supporters of Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, the head of the powerful Hashid tribal confederation.
Meanwhile, sources close to the president say Mr Saleh may need months to recover from the burns that reportedly cover 40% of his body. At least 350 others have died in the ongoing crackdown by the authorities and Saleh loyalists on protesters.
The 69-year-old was flown to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, for medical treatment following a rocket attack on a mosque inside the presidential compound on Friday afternoon. The attack killed seven people and wounded senior officials in what officials said was an assassination attempt. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), which brokered a deal for Mr Saleh to hand over power to his deputy within a month in return for immunity from prosecution, were also said to be pushing for a resolution.
Aides accompanying Mr Saleh to Riyadh said he was recovering well and was in good spirits, but unable to move about. The government had earlier announced he would return within a week. But on Wednesday evening, several officials within the General People's Congress told the BBC that there had not been any talks. They said there would not be any while the president was not in the country.
Correspondents say life is returning to normal on the streets of Sanaa, as a ceasefire was holding between government forces loyal to Mr Saleh and tribesman of Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar, the head of the powerful Hashid tribal confederation. Opposition spokesman Mohammed Qahtani also denied the report of a meeting.
More than 200 people were killed and thousands forced to flee the capital in two weeks of fighting that brought the country to the brink of civil war. Meanwhile, thousands of people attended a rally outside the residence of Vice-President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, Yemen's acting leader, calling on him to form a presidential council to seek a solution.
Mr Saleh, who has been in power since 1978, has refused to step down immediately despite months of anti-government demonstrations, and clashes between security forces and protesters that have left more than 350 people dead. Security forces dispersed the crowd. Witnesses say soldiers beat up and arrested a number of demonstrators, and dismantled tents erected there on Tuesday.
Despite repeated promises to do so, he has refused to accept a transition plan brokered by the Gulf Co-Operation Council (GCC) that would see him hand over power to Mr Hadi after one month in return for immunity from prosecution. 'Calm'
US officials are keen for Mr Saleh not to return to Yemen. Along with other Western powers, it fears the crisis enveloping the country might make it easier for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), an active offshoot of the militant network, to operate. Otherwise, correspondents say life is returning to normal in Sanaa, as a ceasefire was holding between the government and Sheikh Ahmar.
The US and other Western powers have called on Mr Saleh not to return to Yemen, amid fears that the crisis might make it easier for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), an active offshoot of the militant network, to operate.
On Tuesday, the army said it had killed dozens of Islamist militants, including an AQAP leader, in the southern coastal town of Zinjibar.On Tuesday, the army said it had killed dozens of Islamist militants, including an AQAP leader, in the southern coastal town of Zinjibar.
A local official said 15 soldiers had been killed in the battles for control of the town seized by militants some 10 days ago.A local official said 15 soldiers had been killed in the battles for control of the town seized by militants some 10 days ago.
On a visit to Egypt on Wednesday, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff said he was relieved that relative calm had returned to Sanaa.On a visit to Egypt on Wednesday, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff said he was relieved that relative calm had returned to Sanaa.
"I would certainly urge leaders from every side of this challenge to be calm and try to resolve the issues peacefully," Adm Mike Mullen said."I would certainly urge leaders from every side of this challenge to be calm and try to resolve the issues peacefully," Adm Mike Mullen said.
But he added that he remained concerned that the situation was allowing AQAP - blamed for two recent attempted attacks on the US - to thrive.
"In that regard, just as to the al-Qaeda piece of it, it is incredibly dangerous and made that much more dangerous in the ongoing chaos," he said.
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