Cold shoulder for Saleh reforms

YEMEN'S embattled president yesterday proposed that the government draw up a new constitution guaranteeing the independence of the parliament and judiciary, but thousands of unsatisfied protesters poured into the streets after his speech to demand the ousting of the Yemeni ruler of 32 years.

The demonstrators have set up camp in the capital and in the cities of Aden and Taiz, saying they will not leave until US-backed President Ali Abdullah Saleh does. The opposition rejected Saleh's latest offer.

Mr Saleh, an ally in the Obama's administrations fight against al-Qaeda, has been making a series of concessions to head off a movement seen as one of the most serious threats to an Arab government inspired by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.

He told thousands of supporters gathered at a stadium in Sanaa that a new constitution would be drafted by the end of year establishing the separation of legislative and executive powers. The president controls all other branches of government.

Mr Saleh said he ordered the government to "fulfil the demands of the youth camping in Sanaa, Aden and Taiz and in other cities but without sit-ins or chaos".

Shortly after Mr Saleh finished his speech, some 4,000 people, mostly students, took to the streets and headed toward the main square in Sanaa, calling for his downfall.

Also in the capital, some 5,000 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and medics marched toward the central square in the downtown, wearing their white robes and decrying this week's shooting by army troops of anti-government protesters gathered at Sanaa University. There were many women among the marchers.

Opposition leader Yassin Said Numan said Mr Saleh's initiative came too late.

"The president's initiative has been overtaken by events and facts on the ground today, but if it came six months ago the matter would be totally different," Mr Numan said.

Nevertheless, he said the opposition parties would study the proposal before sending an official rejection back to Mr Saleh.

The president pledged in his address yesterday that Yemen would hold general elections and form a new government by early 2012. The government and the opposition agreed in 2009 to extend the current parliament's term for two years, until February 2011.

The Saleh-dominated assembly had wanted to hold parliamentary elections next month, but the opposition has rejected holding the ballot without reforming the election law first. The controversy over the issue has shelved any immediate plans for the election.

The tensions in Yemen escalated dramatically this week, with a shooting on Tuesday at the Sanaa University, when government troops fired live ammunition, killing one person and wounding scores of others.

Human rights groups and the US criticised Yemen's crackdown on protests.In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner called on both sides to show restraint.

"We urge the government of Yemen to investigate and hold accountable those who appear to have utilized excessive force," he said.