- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Yemen, Abubakr al-Qirbi, suggested today that there is every chance of reaching a political agreement on a peaceful transition of power in the Arab country. Speaking to reporters in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, Foreign Minister hinted that the departure of President Ali Abdullah Saleh would not be an obstacle to reaching an agreement could be announced this Saturday.
Saleh has bowed to pressure from the protests and has promised to leave office at year's end, but the movement for democratic reform has called for his immediate resignation. "I think the time for departure is something that can be negotiated. It should not be an obstacle to reaching an agreement," said the chancellor.
Al Qirbi, who holds the position on an interim basis, said that just ratified the pact to begin negotiations to define a timetable for the president to hand over power. The statements of al-Qirbi occur 24 hours after President Saleh, who has spent more than three decades in office, said he is prepared to leave office, but only if he can transfer to "safe hands".
Addressing his "sons young demonstrators," Saleh said he was "ready for dialogue" with them and "receive their demands," reported the Yemeni news agency SABA. Since the protests began in late January, Saleh has tried to save his presidency giving back to become a candidate when his term ends in 2013, offering a new constitution and even ahead of the January 2012 elections.
Hundreds of thousands took to the streets yesterday in the Yemeni capital to insist on the president's departure on a journey that was not free of violence and was called by the opposition as "The Day of Departure." On Friday 18, during a day of protests, at least 52 people were killed by sniper fire and security forces, as alleged human rights organizations like Amnesty International.
In response to this massacre, a number of senior military commanders, tribal leaders, diplomatic representatives and pro-government MPs have been declared in default or have resigned their posts. 
Saleh has bowed to pressure from the protests and has promised to leave office at year's end, but the movement for democratic reform has called for his immediate resignation. "I think the time for departure is something that can be negotiated. It should not be an obstacle to reaching an agreement," said the chancellor.
Al Qirbi, who holds the position on an interim basis, said that just ratified the pact to begin negotiations to define a timetable for the president to hand over power. The statements of al-Qirbi occur 24 hours after President Saleh, who has spent more than three decades in office, said he is prepared to leave office, but only if he can transfer to "safe hands".
Addressing his "sons young demonstrators," Saleh said he was "ready for dialogue" with them and "receive their demands," reported the Yemeni news agency SABA. Since the protests began in late January, Saleh has tried to save his presidency giving back to become a candidate when his term ends in 2013, offering a new constitution and even ahead of the January 2012 elections.
Hundreds of thousands took to the streets yesterday in the Yemeni capital to insist on the president's departure on a journey that was not free of violence and was called by the opposition as "The Day of Departure." On Friday 18, during a day of protests, at least 52 people were killed by sniper fire and security forces, as alleged human rights organizations like Amnesty International.
In response to this massacre, a number of senior military commanders, tribal leaders, diplomatic representatives and pro-government MPs have been declared in default or have resigned their posts.
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