President Saleh Sets New Condition to Sign the GCC initiative

By Fatik Al-Rodaini

Sana'a, May 16, 2011- Yemen's embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh laid down a new condition in order to sign on the GCC initiative to salvage the current crisis in Yemen.

The Saudi newspaper Al-Madeena mentioned that President Saleh handed over 15 names of his opponents to Abdel Latif Al-Zayyani, the head of GCC in order to sign in the GCC proposal.

Informed sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media, said that President Saleh asked the Yemeni opposition coalition, the Joint Meeting Parties before he signs the proposal to acknowledge the current Supreme Commission For Elections & Referendum in which it will organize the upcoming presidential elections after two months of signing the GCC proposal. ''If the opposition coalition has the right to protest against President Saleh in the streets, President Saleh has the same right to stay in power until his term end in 2013,'' the informed sources added.

Yesterday, the ruling General People's Congress party proposed a mechanism to implement the initiative calling for timeframes to address the south and Saada issues and ending the protests and sit-ins before Saleh resigns.

The proposal was revealed earlier this month when the ruling party said that the initiative terms should be implemented in sequence.

On Friday, Qatar withdrew from the initiative, justifying the move due to the delays and stalling of President Saleh to finalize it.

Under the GCC proposal, Saleh will resign in a month since reaching a final agreement with the opposition in return for immunity from prosecution granted to him and officials in his regime after leaving office.

It also called for forming a national unity government from the ruling and opposition parties.

The youth-led protesters in the squares of change and freedom in many of the Yemeni cities rejected any deal not ensuring an immediate, unconditional resignation of Saleh.

Meantime, the antigovernment protesters said they will continue their escalation plan and that next Tuesday they will control key public buildings in various cities.

In the last few weeks, the security forces and the government supporters stepped up the crackdown on them, leaving tens killed and thousands injured.