This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-15858911
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Yemeni President Saleh signs deal on ceding power | Yemeni President Saleh signs deal on ceding power |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has signed a deal under which he will step down. | |
| Mr Saleh signed the agreement, brokered by Yemen's Gulf Arab neighbours, in the Saudi capital Riyadh. | Mr Saleh signed the agreement, brokered by Yemen's Gulf Arab neighbours, in the Saudi capital Riyadh. |
| Under the deal, he is to transfer his powers to his deputy ahead of an early election and in return will get immunity from prosecution. | Under the deal, he is to transfer his powers to his deputy ahead of an early election and in return will get immunity from prosecution. |
| But some protesters in Yemen said they would reject any deal giving the president and his officials immunity. | |
| The protesters said the Gulf initiative ignored the "blood of martyrs", BBC Arabic correspondent Abdullah Ghorab in Yemen reports. | |
| The government crackdown has left hundreds dead and thousands wounded in Yemen. | |
| The 69-year-old leader - who has ruled since 1978 - has been facing protests since the beginning of the year. | The 69-year-old leader - who has ruled since 1978 - has been facing protests since the beginning of the year. |
| He came close to signing the deal several times in the past, only to pull out at the last minute. | He came close to signing the deal several times in the past, only to pull out at the last minute. |
| Meanwhile, clashes broke out between pro-Saleh troops and gunmen loyal to dissident chief Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar in Sanaa. | Meanwhile, clashes broke out between pro-Saleh troops and gunmen loyal to dissident chief Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar in Sanaa. |
| No casualties were immediately reported in the fighting in the al-Hasaba district of the Yemeni capital. | No casualties were immediately reported in the fighting in the al-Hasaba district of the Yemeni capital. |
| Saleh's pledge | Saleh's pledge |
| Mr Saleh signed the agreement in the presence of Saudi King Abdullah and other senior Saudi officials after flying to Riyadh on Wednesday morning. | Mr Saleh signed the agreement in the presence of Saudi King Abdullah and other senior Saudi officials after flying to Riyadh on Wednesday morning. |
| Under the plan, the president will hand over power to deputy Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi in return for immunity from prosecution. | Under the plan, the president will hand over power to deputy Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi in return for immunity from prosecution. |
| Mr Hadi is then expected to form a national unity government and also call for early presidential elections within 90 days. | Mr Hadi is then expected to form a national unity government and also call for early presidential elections within 90 days. |
| The deal envisages that Mr Saleh will remain an honorary president for three months after singing the agreement. | |
| In Riyadh, Mr Saleh pledged to co-operate with the new government which would include the opposition. | In Riyadh, Mr Saleh pledged to co-operate with the new government which would include the opposition. |
| He also called on all Yemenis to be partners in rebuilding the conflict-torn country. | He also called on all Yemenis to be partners in rebuilding the conflict-torn country. |
| The breakthrough comes after intensive talks in Yemen by the UN envoy to the country, Jamal Benomar. | |
| In June, Mr Saleh survived an attack on his compound in Sanaa and then flew to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. He returned to Yemen in September. | In June, Mr Saleh survived an attack on his compound in Sanaa and then flew to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. He returned to Yemen in September. |
| On Wednesday, he said he would go to New York to continue treatment. | |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said: "If he (Saleh) comes to New York, I'll be happy to meet him." | |
| Mr Ban added that he was "encouraged by the positive development of the situation in Yemen". | |
| What began as peaceful protests against President Saleh has increasingly degenerated into armed conflict involving different tribes and militias. | What began as peaceful protests against President Saleh has increasingly degenerated into armed conflict involving different tribes and militias. |
| Five or six provinces are no longer under government control. | Five or six provinces are no longer under government control. |