Yemen in crisis as Saleh refuses to stand down

19 May 2011

President refuses to sign deal brokered by GCC that would have seen him leave office in 30 days

Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh has refused to sign a new deal that would have led to his resignation in June in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

The UK’s Financial Times reported that GCC diplomats had brokered the deal and Abdul Latif al-Zayani, the secretary-general of the bloc, had believed he had been successful.

The deal involved Saleh stepping down and a unity government from across the political spectrum taking over until free elections could be held.

However, after initially agreeing to the plan Saleh decided that he would refuse to sign and now it is unclear as to whether any deal can be salvaged.

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