EU welcomes GCC agreement for peaceful transition in Yemen

[News_Editor]

EU welcomes GCC agreement for peaceful transition in Yemen

2011-04-28 02:24:08 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- The European Union on Wednesday welcomed the agreement on the plan proposed by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for a peaceful transition in Yemen.

Catherine Ashton, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, remarked that both the ruling government, led by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and the opposition coalition accepted the GCC initiative.

"I believe that the GCC initiative represents the best chance for Yemen to address the economic, social and security challenges ahead, and to avoid escalation of violence," said the EU High Commissioner.

Furthermore, Ashton urged both parties to finalize the agreement as quickly as possible for the benefit of the Yemeni population. The plan calls for Saleh's resignation within 30 days from the acceptance date and guarantees that he will not be prosecuted.

The GCC-proposed plan also contemplates holding presidential elections within two months from the date of Saleh's departure as well as the establishment of a new government within 90 days.

President Saleh said over the weekend that he accepted a peaceful transition under the Yemeni constitution but remarked that he will not cede power to protesters who continue staging mass anti-government protests across the country.

On Wednesday, at least twelve protesters were killed and over a hundred injured after clashes with security forces, according to the Yemen Post. The demonstration took place in the capital city Sana'a and calling for an immediate end to the 32-year-long regime.

The demonstrators also rejected the proposed immunity to Saleh under the GCC transition initiative. The Yemeni president has described the protests as a coup against his administration organized by infiltrated Islamist extremists.

According to the United Nations, the recent political turmoil has left an estimated 100 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Many reports indicate that security forces have been firing live ammunition in order to disrupt mass protests.

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