Yemen's Saleh wants international guarantees to sign deal

Wed Oct 19, 2011

SANAA (Reuters) - Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said on Wednesday he was ready to sign a Gulf peace initiative calling for a transfer of power if the United States, Europe and Gulf Arab states provided guarantees for implementing the proposal.

Saleh has previously backed down three times from signing the proposal, which calls on the president hand power to his deputy ahead of new elections. Yemeni protesters have been demanding that Saleh steps down.

"Now that the president has returned, they say there is no need for the vice president to sign. Fine, I am ready to sign," Saleh told a meeting of party leaders in Sanaa broadcast on state television. "But provide guarantees to implement this initiative. We want Gulf guarantees, first, second, European guarantees and third American guarantees," he added.