UN envoy Jamal Benomar is expected to return to Yemen on 10 November as part of renewed efforts to persuade President Ali Abdullah Saleh to hand over power.

Reports say that Saleh is likely to accept the GCC-brokered peace plan. Benomar will meet with vice-president Abdrabbu Mansour Hadi, who is negotiating details of the handover together with opposition members. Benomar will also meet opposition leaders in order to implement the peace plan that was formed by the GCC in April. Protests have been ongoing in Yemen since then with people demanding he step down after 33 years in office.

Under the Gulf plan, Saleh would issue a decree handing over all power to Hadi, who would then sign the agreement and name an opposition leader to form a new national unity government. Then preparations would start for polls.

If Benomar’s trip is successful, the peace plan is expected to be signed in Saudi Arabia by mid-November.