Yemen grants Saleh immunity in attempt to end crisis

[maddezmom]

Outgoing president will travel to United States for medical treatment, officials say

updated 2 hours 31 minutes ago

SANAA — Yemen's parliament approved a law on Saturday granting outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh immunity from prosecution, part of a deal for him to formally step down after nearly a year of unrest.

Opposition politicians have accused the security forces, controlled by the president and aides, of using snipers to kill hundreds of demonstrators who, inspired by revolts elsewhere in the Arab world, protested since last January against his rule.

Lawmakers also voted for Vice-President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi becoming the candidate for all parties in a presidential election next month to replace Saleh following his 33-year rule.

The immunity law, backed by a majority, stops short of giving full protection to Saleh's aides after being amended to say they would only be protected for "politically motivated" crimes committed conducting official duties, not those considered "terrorist acts."

more:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46081478/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/

[Eugene]

1. AP: Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh Gives Farewell Speech, Apologizes

Source: Associated Press

Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh Gives Farewell Speech, Apologizes

AHMED AL-HAJ 01/22/12 11:01 AM ET

SANAA, Yemen — Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said Sunday he will travel to Washington for medical treatment and he asked Yemenis for forgiveness, saying it is time to hand over power in a farewell speech, state media reported.

The mercurial president told Yemeni TV networks that he had formally handed power to his vice president but would return to his homeland before early presidential elections scheduled for next month as the head of the General People's Congress Party.

An official at Sanaa airport said that a presidential plane had left the country Sunday morning, but he declined to say who was on board. Two other airport officials said that Saleh had already left the country, but the claims could not be confirmed.

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Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/22/yemen-president-saleh-farewell-speech_n_1221937.html