Saleh, Yemen opposition agree on plan to transfer power

Yemen’s coalition of opposition parties reversed course late last night and accepted an initiative that would see longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh step down in 30 days, potentially breaking three months of political deadlock.

The deal, which was presented last week by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), meets opposition leaders' demand for Mr. Saleh's departure but also calls for immunity for Saleh, his relatives, and his aides. It gives the opposition a role in an interim national unity government but also requires them to end their involvement in the protests that have posed an unprecedented challenge to Saleh's 32-year rule in Yemen.

Representatives from the ruling party and the opposition are expected to sign the initiative within days, opening the way for a measure of stability to return to the fragile Arab nation. But throughout the country, protesters are united against the initiative and claim that the opposition umbrella group, the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP), does not represent their interests.

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Indeed, the sudden acceptance of the proposal highlights mounting tensions between the JMP and the youth movement credited with starting the antiregime movement. For months, student coalitions have claimed that their voices are being drowned out by the official opposition parties. If the Gulf deal proceeds, their role could be significantly diminished.

Primary among protesters' grievances with the GCC plan is the offer of immunity to Saleh and his family, who control many of the country’s top intelligence and security posts. At least 120 antigovernment demonstrators have been killed since protests began in January, according to Amnesty International. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces broke out yesterday in the cities of Taiz, Ibb, and al-Baida. Three people were reported killed.

“Nowhere else in the world can another country come in and grant immunity to someone. [Saleh] has committed crimes against the people and we have the right to prosecute him," says Hassan Loghman, a protest organizer. "This is not anyone else’s decision to make.”

Deep distrust of Saleh

Popular rejection of the plan is additionally fueled by a deep distrust of Saleh’s regime. Since the beginning of protests, demonstrators have said they would settle for nothing less than Saleh’s immediate resignation. Many see granting the president 30 days before his resignation as an opportunity for him to maneuver his way into keeping power until the end of his term in 2013.

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