Yemen's Saleh in Riyadh to sign exit plan Wednesday Wednesday, 23 November 2011 10:27

RIYADH/SANAA:  Yemen's long-time ruler President Ali Abdullah Saleh arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to plan under which he will finally cede power, the UN envoy to the restive country said.

 

"The president of the republic arrives safely to the airport of Riyadh to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, following an invitation from the Saudi leadership, to attend the signing of the Gulf initiative," the Yemeni TV announced on Wednesday.

 

The power transfer initiative in Yemen is being brokered by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

 

Saleh's visit came after the UN's Yemen envoy said on Tuesday that a deal aimed at ending months of political deadlock had been approved both by the opposition and by the president.

 

"All the parties have agreed to implement the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) initiative," envoy Jamal Benomar told reporters in the capital Sanaa.

 

The plan put forward last spring by the GCC countries headed by Saudi Arabia offers Saleh and his relatives immunity from prosecution if he hands over power to his deputy, Vice President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi.

 

"The signing ceremony will take place today in Riyadh," Jamal Benomar told AFP by telephone, confirming that the plan, signed by the opposition in April, will now be inked by the veteran leader himself after months of stalling.

 

Both parties will also sign a UN-crafted roadmap which sets a mechanism for implementing the Gulf plan, under which Saleh will hand power to his deputy in return for immunity from prosecution.

 

According to the agreement, Saleh will on signing immediately hand "all necessary constitutional powers to his deputy Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi," a diplomatic source said.

 

Yemeni television said Saleh was already in Riyadh for the signing ceremony.

 

His trip to the Saudi capital "comes in response to an invitation by the Saudi leadership to attend the signing of the Gulf Initiative and its implementation mechanism ... to take the country out of its crisis," it said.

 

Saleh has repeatedly refused to sign the initiative, triggering months of political deadlock that has left the government in a state of chaos and the economy in shambles.

 

The political crisis has also exacerbated tensions on the street where tens of thousands of anti-regime protesters have faced a brutal 10-month government crackdown that has left hundreds dead and thousands wounded.

 

The plan submitted by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council will effectively bring an end to Saleh's 33-year rule. (Reports from QNA and AFP)