Yemeni opposition accepts GCC power-transfer plan in full
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Yemen's opposition on Monday announced it has accepted a recent Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) plan in full about the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh after 30 days of signing the deal, the opposition spokesman told Xinhua.
"The opposition coalition of the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) has already submitted the full acceptance to the GCC Secretary- General Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani," opposition spokesman Mohamed Qahtan told Xinhua.
"We made it clear in our letter to the GCC Secretary-General al- Zayani that will form the joint national unity government after President Saleh signs the GCC plan ... and we agree that the interim unity government to be sworn in in front of Saleh," he said.
"In the letter, we told the GCC Secretary-General al-Zayani that the opposition JMP's representatives are ready to sign the amended GCC plan as soon as the GCC mediators request," Qahtan added.
Qahtan also said the change in their position came after they received strong guarantees from GCC leaders that ensure that Saleh will resign within 30 days after signing the deal and the ruling party will accept his resignation.
Earlier the day, Yemen's major provinces witnessed deadly clashes between police-backed government supporters and anti-government street protesters, leaving at least two protesters killed and dozens of others injured by live rounds, batons and tear gas in provinces of Taiz, Ibb, Al-Bayda, Al-Hodayda, Aden, Shabwa and the capital Sanaa.
Protesters escalated their marches to protest the opposition's conditional acceptance on Saturday to the GCC plan, saying the opposition only represents itself and vowing to step up their protests to force Saleh to immediately leave office and then to prosecute him along with his family members and regime aides.
On Saturday, the JMP announced their acceptance to the Gulf plan, but said they stipulated to form the national unity government after Saleh's resignation because they do not want to be sworn in in front of him.
President Saleh, who has faced three-month-long protests demanding an immediate end to his 33-year rule, warned on Sunday to form a new government from his ruling party in its allies if the opposition hinders the GCC plan.
