Angry activists veto immunity for Yemen president

A Gulf Arab plan for Yemen's president to step down would guarantee the veteran leader and his family immunity from prosecution, an opposition source claimed yesterday, but youth activists said that should be rejected.

The United States and Gulf Arab countries including Yemen's key financial backer, Saudi Arabia, appear ready to push aside president Ali Abdullah Saleh, a long-time ally against al-Qaeda's Yemen-based wing, to avoid a chaotic collapse of the poorest Arab state.

Saleh's sometimes violent response to two months of protests against his 32-year rule has tried the patience of Washington and Riyadh, both of which have been the target of attempted attacks by al-Qaeda's Yemen-based branch.

The Gulf proposal for talks in Riyadh was presented to Saleh and a coalition of opposition parties this week. Saleh welcomed it, while the opposition has withheld its response, but set conditions that may derail any talks, according to a source.

An opposition source said the proposal would give Saleh and his family immunity . In a statement youth activists said: "We affirm to build a new civilian state according to the will of the people, not international parties or political parties that do not represent us."