As the death toll rises in Yemen, the country's president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, is being called to step down by western and Gulf leaders.
April 5 ,2011- Western countries are pushing the President of Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, to resign as more than 20 people have been killed in the last day and other Gulf countries attempted to forge a deal with the opposition forces.
A represantitive for the chief opposition party in Yemen, in the first statement since looking at an offer proposed by the Gulf Co-operation Council, stated that Saleh’s rebels were open to a conditional negotiation.
“We have welcomed (a GCC invitation) and said we will attend, but to discuss a transfer of power only,” represantitive Mohammed Qahtan said to AFP of the proposal, made at a conference of GCC delegates on Sunday.
A government source, speaking under the cover of anonymity, said Saleh was open to the peace process, which would be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at a future time.
Opposition forces have chosen to remain cautious, however.
“We welcome any effort that would lead to (Salleh’s) immediate departure, but we haven’t received anything to discuss yet,” declared Mohammed al-Sabri, another opposition leader.
