Yemen's Saleh calls for early elections

SANAA, May 20, 2011 (Reuters) - Yemen's entrenched President Ali Abdullah Saleh called for early presidential elections in a speech to a pro-government rally Friday, though he gave no details on when or how the election would take place.

"We call for an early presidential election to prevent bloodshed ... in a smooth and democratic way," Saleh told a cheering crowd of supporters.

Saleh has been under growing pressure from Gulf Arab and Western diplomats seeking his signature to a power transition deal, twice derailed since April.