Yemen: Saleh now negotiating his own departure

A DEAL heralding the end of president Ali Abdullah Saleh's three-decade reign in Yemen was on the verge of being struck last night.

After weeks of escalating protests against Saleh's rule, foreign minister Abubakr al-Qirbi yesterday said a transfer of power could be negotiated, and would not be an "obstacle" to reaching an agreement.

However, opposition leaders expressed doubt about the prospect of an imminent breakthrough, claiming there was still "a very big gap" between the two sides.

Saleh told tribes in the capital, Sanaa, yesterday that he would "work to avoid bloodshed using all possible means". On Friday, he said he was ready to relinquish power to prevent further violence, but only to what he called "safe hands".

While demonstrators want him to step down immediately, Qirbi's comments represent the first time the government has confirmed Saleh is negotiating his own departure, with some believing his resignation is now just a matter of time.

Discussing the prospect of a deal, Qirbi said: "I hope it will be before tomorrow.

"President Saleh is willing to look at all possibilities, as long as there are really serious commitments by the JMP (the opposition coalition] to come and initiate a serious dialogue between them and the ruling party."

He said the ruling General People's Congress was holding talks with the opposition over the timing of a handover of power.

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• Yemen: Saleh now negotiating his own departure

"I think the time period is something that can be negotiated. It shouldn't be really an obstacle to reach an agreement," he added. "I think things are very close if the real intention is to reach an agreement. But if there are parties who want to obstruct it then, of course, one cannot predict."

But Yassin Noma, head of the opposition coalition, said: "We still have a very big gap. I think he is manoeuvring."

The negotiations came a day after tens of thousands people attended rival mass rallies in Sanaa. Last week an estimated 50 people were shot dead at an anti-government protest. In recent weeks, Saleh's power base has been hit by military and tribal leaders defecting to the opposition.

Saleh, in office since 1978, has attempted to stem the protests with a crackdown and a series of concessions. All, however, have been rebuffed by the opposition, including an offer last week to transfer power after the drafting of a new constitution and elections by the end of the year.