Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh signed an initiative on Wednesday to hand power over to his deputy as part of a proposal to end months of protests that have pushed Yemen to the brink of civil war. Saudi state television has broadcast live images of Saleh signing the accord in the presence of Saudi King Abdullah and Crown Prince Nayef. Yemeni opposition officials signed the accord after Saleh.
It was the fourth attempt to complete a power transfer accord that Saleh backed out of on three previous occasions at the last minute.
During a telephone conversation on Tuesday, Saleh told UN chief Ban Ki-moon he will come to New York for medical treatment immediately after signing the deal. |