Yemeni president welcomes Gulf proposal

Yemeni president welcomes Gulf proposal

2011-04-11 21:00:52 GMT+7 (ICT)

SANAA, YEMEN (BNO NEWS) -- Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Monday welcomed the mediation efforts of Gulf countries to find a negotiated solution to the country's political crisis, the state-run Saba news agency reported.

"We have studied the statement of the meeting of the GCC countries' Foreign Ministers held in Riyadh on Sunday , April 10, and again Yemen's Presidency welcomes the efforts of our brothers in the GCC countries to contribute to solve the current crisis in Yemen", an official source told Saba.

Foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states on Sunday urged Saleh to transfer his authorities to his deputy Abdu Raboo Mansour Hadi to form a government of national unity to be chaired by the opposition. Saleh didn't mention if he was willing to step down immediately, but said that he accepts a peaceful and smooth transfer of power under the Constitution.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding his immediate resignation. According to media reports, members of the opposition reiterated that they would reject any proposal that did not call for Saleh's immediate ouster.

During the meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, the foreign ministers reiterated concern for the political tension and security deterioration in Yemen. According to the UN, it is estimated that the recent political turmoil in Yemen has led to more than 100 deaths and hundreds of injuries.

President Saleh has blamed the unrest on a foreign agenda and added that some hostile media outlets have exaggerated about the situation in Yemen.

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