To stop opposition groups from organizing protests, President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen, announced on Wednesday he would not seek to add another term to his 32-year presidency, which expires in 2013.
Saleh made his promise a day before mass demonstrations were scheduled in all provinces.
“I call on the opposition to freeze all planned protests, rallies, and sit-ins,” Saleh told Parliament and the military, according to Reuters. “I call on the opposition after this initiative to come and form a national unity government in spite of the ruling party majority. We will not allow chaos. We will not allow destruction.”
Saleh told lawmakers in Parliament that instead of passing constitutional amendments that would allow him to be president for life, neither he nor his son would be seeking election in 2013, News Yemen reported. The opposition parties had boycotted the parliamentary session.
The president said further that he would accept whatever the decisions of a four-member committee—comprised of both government and opposition members—regarding elections and constitutional amendments, reported News Yemen.
Islamist Islah (reform) party Undersecretary Mohammed al-Saadi said that while this was a positive step, the planned rally would not be called off, Reuters reported.
The population of Yemen is quite dispersed and poor. Common complaints against Saleh concern deep corruption.
Yemen News Agency, Saba, reported that President Obama called Saleh on Wednesday and told him, “You proved that you are a wise leader addressing key issues in Yemen efficiently,” adding, “I look forward to a good partnership between Yemen and the U.S.”
Saleh made his promise a day before mass demonstrations were scheduled in all provinces.
“I call on the opposition to freeze all planned protests, rallies, and sit-ins,” Saleh told Parliament and the military, according to Reuters. “I call on the opposition after this initiative to come and form a national unity government in spite of the ruling party majority. We will not allow chaos. We will not allow destruction.”
Saleh told lawmakers in Parliament that instead of passing constitutional amendments that would allow him to be president for life, neither he nor his son would be seeking election in 2013, News Yemen reported. The opposition parties had boycotted the parliamentary session.
The president said further that he would accept whatever the decisions of a four-member committee—comprised of both government and opposition members—regarding elections and constitutional amendments, reported News Yemen.
Islamist Islah (reform) party Undersecretary Mohammed al-Saadi said that while this was a positive step, the planned rally would not be called off, Reuters reported.
The population of Yemen is quite dispersed and poor. Common complaints against Saleh concern deep corruption.
Yemen News Agency, Saba, reported that President Obama called Saleh on Wednesday and told him, “You proved that you are a wise leader addressing key issues in Yemen efficiently,” adding, “I look forward to a good partnership between Yemen and the U.S.”
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