Activists reject Gulf Arab plan for Yemen
Source: Agencies |
April 8, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A GULF Arab plan for Yemen's president to step down will guarantee the veteran leader and his family immunity from prosecution, an opposition source said yesterday, and youth activists said that was enough to reject it.
The United States and Gulf Arab countries, including Yemen's key financial backer, Saudi Arabia, now appear ready to push aside a long-time ally against al-Qaida's Yemen-based wing to avoid a chaotic collapse of the poorest Arab state.
The Gulf proposal for talks in Riyadh was presented to Ali Abdullah Saleh and a coalition of opposition parties this week. Saleh welcomed it, and sources said it envisaged handing power to an interim council of tribal and political leaders who would help appoint a national unity government ahead of elections.
But an opposition source said the proposal would give Saleh and his family, whose control over key posts has long angered many Yemenis, immunity from prosecution and youth activists said in a statement that was not acceptable. "We affirm that this is a people's revolution demanding the fall and the trial of a regime ... to build a new civilian state according to the will of the people, not international parties or political parties that do not represent us," said a coalition of protester groups in Sanaa.
The Gulf proposal envisages Saleh hand over power to a vice-president, the opposition source said. Current incumbent Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has said he does not want such a role.
The United States and Gulf Arab countries, including Yemen's key financial backer, Saudi Arabia, now appear ready to push aside a long-time ally against al-Qaida's Yemen-based wing to avoid a chaotic collapse of the poorest Arab state.
The Gulf proposal for talks in Riyadh was presented to Ali Abdullah Saleh and a coalition of opposition parties this week. Saleh welcomed it, and sources said it envisaged handing power to an interim council of tribal and political leaders who would help appoint a national unity government ahead of elections.
But an opposition source said the proposal would give Saleh and his family, whose control over key posts has long angered many Yemenis, immunity from prosecution and youth activists said in a statement that was not acceptable. "We affirm that this is a people's revolution demanding the fall and the trial of a regime ... to build a new civilian state according to the will of the people, not international parties or political parties that do not represent us," said a coalition of protester groups in Sanaa.
The Gulf proposal envisages Saleh hand over power to a vice-president, the opposition source said. Current incumbent Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has said he does not want such a role.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
