SANAA – Yemen’s ruling party held open the possibility that President Ali Abdullah Saleh would sign a deal on Sunday that would soon ease him out of office as Washington heaped pressure on him to transfer power. The move was an unexpected reversal just a day after last-minute snags appeared to derail the deal, which would require Mr Saleh to resign within a month but grant him immunity from prosecution to ensure a dignified exit.
A Yemeni opposition official said a Gulf mediator confirmed Mr Saleh would on Sunday sign the deal forged by Yemen’s oil-exporting neighbours who hope it will end months of protests that have paralysed Yemen’s economy. – (Reuters)