Yemini protesters unmoved by Saleh's promise to quit

Thousands of anti-government protesters held their ground yesterday in the Yemeni capital's Change Square despite the president's acceptance of an Arab regional proposal to leave office under certain conditions after 32 years in power.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh agreed on Saturday to the proposal for him to hand power to his vice president within 30 days of a deal being signed in exchange for immunity from prosecution for him and his sons.

A coalition of seven opposition political parties also agreed to the proposal with several reservations. But they do not control the street, where key figures among a diverse range of other government opponents rejected the proposal and said they doubted President Saleh had any intention to leave.

Thousands of protesters held on to their camp in Change Square in the capital, Sanaa, where they are ringed by military units that defected to join and protect them. Men in desert camouflage military uniforms mixed with the crowds, pumping their arms into the air and flashing victory signs.

"The proposals are not acceptable at all and the opposition parties don't represent us," said Khaled al-Ansi, a leader of the youth movement that is one of the main organizers of the street protests.

With more than 130 people killed in the protests since February, Al-Ansi said Saleh was "behind everything that is happening and he should be tried together with his sons"