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Yemeni President Agrees To End 33-Year Reign

Agnus-Dei Farrant |
November 23, 2011 | 9:31 p.m. PST

Executive Producer

Protesters in February hung a paper image of Saleh (photo courtesy of Creative Commons).
Protesters in February hung a paper image of Saleh (photo courtesy of Creative Commons).
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh signed an agreement Wednesday that transferred power to his vice president, though this isn't the first time Saleh has promised to step down, The New York Times reported.

Saleh made a surprise trip to Saudi Arabia where he signed the deal to transfer power to Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi within 30 days, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Protesters denounced the agreement because it offered Saleh and his family immunity. The WSJ reported that protesters blame the country's established opposition parties for letting the leader escape after months of bloodshed they say killed more than 1,000 people.

Saleh's government was helpful in the U.S. fighting Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the WSJ reported. U.S. officials said Saleh and his security services were also helpful in providing intelligence for drone strikes that killed Anwar al-Awlaki.

If Saleh follows through, he will be the fourth Arab leader to be forced from power this year. Under the terms of the deal, the NYT reported, a presidential election will be held in three months; a consensus figure, probably the vice president, is expected to be the only candidate. Until then, a national unity government will be formed. It will consist of members of the Yemeni opposition and the current ruling party. A military commission will restructure the country's fractured armed forces.

Saleh may manage to keep political influence in the country; he has a son and three nephews in powerful military and intelligence service posts.

 

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