Saleh reiterates commitment to power transfer deal
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Xinhua, January 6, 2012
Yemeni outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Thursday reiterated his commitment to implementing a Gulf-brokered deal and the UN Security Council Resolution 2014 which were both designated to peacefully ease him out of office and end the country's long-running protests.
Saleh's move came in response to a repeated call by the United States a day earlier for him to step down.
"President Saleh is committed to implementing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) initiative, its implementation mechanism and the UN Security Council Resolution 2014," official Saba news agency quoted a brief statement by Saleh's office as saying.
"We urge the opposition coalition Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) to precisely be committed to the power transfer initiative in accordance to the agreed timetable in order to achieve the security, stability which would pave the way for holding the early presidential elections on Feb. 21," said the statement.
The initiative was signed by Saleh and the opposition in Saudi Arabia on Nov. 23, 2011. Under the deal, the 33-year-ruler retains the title of honorary president for 90 days before his resignation and enjoys immunity from prosecution afterwards.
The statement also warned against "calls or statements by some sources that aim to undermine the process of the political settlement that all parties agreed upon."
The statement came a few hours after Saleh officially postponed his medical trip to the United States.
Late on Wednesday, the U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in response to Saleh's decision that her country has made no decision over whether allowing in Saleh for medical treatment, but reiterated a call for him to step down.
One of Saleh's aides said "the U.S. response angered Saleh and his party's leaders."
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