Yemen´s President Ali Abdullah Saleh signed a Gulf-brokered power transfer deal in Saudi Arabia´s capital Riyadh on Wednesday after backing out of doing so for at least three times.
Yemeni president to get medical treatment in New York: UN chief
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that he will get medical treatment in New York immediately after he signed an agreement that would arrange his surrender of political power, Ban told reporters here Wednesday.
UN chief hails signing of political settlement agreement on Yemen
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Wednesday welcomed the signing of a political settlement agreement on Yemen, calling it marked "an important step" for the people of Yemen in moving their country forward towards a better future.
U.S. applauds power transfer deal for Yemen
The United States on Wednesday applauded the power transfer deal reached between the Yemeni government and the opposition, calling for its swift implementation.
EU applauds Yemen power transfer deal
European Union (EU) foreign policy chief on Wednesday welcomed the signing of a political transition agreement in Yemen.
- In July 1978, he was elected to be president of North Yemen after his predecessor was killed in a bomb attack a month earlier.
- In early 2011, Yemeni protesters began to launch protests, calling for an end to Saleh´s three-decade rule.
- On June 3, Saleh was seriously injured in an attack and left for Saudi Arabia to seek medical treatment a day later.
- On Nov. 22, Saleh signed a power transfer deal to hand over power to his deputy and resign within 30 days in return for immunity from prosecution.
A national consensus government shall be formed as stipulated in the GCC initiative within 14 days. The vice president shall be designated to issue a decree assigning the candidate chosen by the opposition to form a government.
Early presidential elections are held with 90 days. Vice President Hadi shall be nominated as a consensus presidential candidate.
The parliament shall issue and approve the guarantees (immunity) law with 30 days, which ensures the protection of President Saleh and all those who worked with him.
Second phase (lasting for two years):
Gov´t calls on political parties and forces including Southern Movement, Houthis, the youth movements, and civil society organizations to a comprehensive National Dialogue conference.
No less than 90 days prior to the holding of a popular referendum to approve the proposed constitutional amendments, a new electoral law shall be promulgated.
The second phase ends by the electing of the new parliament and president of the republic.
- In Jan. this year, anti-government protests erupted, at first calling for reforms and later demanding the ouster ofPresident Ali Abdullah Saleh.
- On Feb. 2, Saleh announced he would neither run for president in 2013 nor bring his son to power after him.
- On March 18, Saleh declared a state of emergency as a series of Yemeni military commanders and ambassadors declared to resign and joint the protest.
- On April 23 and May 18, Saleh orally agreed to sign the GCC deal, but backed out at the last minute.
- On May 22, after Saleh backed out of signing the GCC plan for the third time, the armed tribesmen loyal to opposition tribal leader Sadiq al-Ahmar launched heavy attacks on the government buildings in central Sanaa
- Heavy clashes between the Yemeni government forces and the defected army along with the oppostion-led armed tribesmen rattled Sanaa since mid September, leaving at least 1,480 people killed and thousands of others injured.
- On Sept. 23, Saleh returned to Sanaa, vowing to launch national reconciliation dialogue with the opposition to end the political crisis.
- In October, the UN Security Council issued a resolution, urging Saleh to sign the GCC-brokered deal and start to peacefully transfer power as soon as possible.
