An effigy of President Ali Abdullah Saleh hangs on a noose in Sana'a. (AJTalkEng, Creative Commons)

“It has not been decided where he will stay,” the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the AFP.

But Yemeni government officials have denied the claims, stating that they expect the president to return to Yemen within a few days.

On June 3 Saleh sustained injuries from a bomb explosion at a mosque inside of his presidential compound in Sana’a. He was flown to Riyadh the following day on a Saudi medical aircraft and has not been in public since.

Saleh’s deputy Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi has been met with demands from protesters to put into place an interim ruling council. The council would prevent Saleh’s return to power.

Hadi met with representatives of the protests Wednesday. The activists, who expect the ouster of Saleh, have given Hadi 24 hours to decide whether to join the proposed council.

Washington welcomed Hadi’s talks with the parliamentary opposition.

"We have been encouraged that Vice President Hadi has started some outreach to the opposition and started some dialogue," said US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.

Protests in Yemen began in late January and prompted the Gulf states to propose a transfer of power from Saleh to his deputy. Saleh’s resignation would have guaranteed parliamentary immunity from prosecution, but the Yemeni leader refused to accept the deal. His presidential term officially ends in 2013.

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