Yemeni state television says President Ali Abdullah Saleh has arrived in Saudi Arabia
to sign a power transfer deal mediated by Gulf Arab states as a way to resolve his
country's crisis. The TV did not say when the deal would be signed.
Saleh,
who has ruled the country for 33 years, has come close to signing a deal several times,
but has changed his mind each time.
UN envoy Jamal Benomar yesterday told reporters
in Sanaa that Saleh had agreed to resign and allow a government of national unity
to be formed.
Benomar said Yemen’s vice president will ensure the implementation
of a power-transfer deal sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Hundreds
of people have been killed in a crackdown on the anti-government protests that began
ten months ago. Saleh spent two months in Saudi Arabia being treated for injuries
following an attack on his presidential compound - but he has refused to step down
since returning to Yemen. Listen: