Yemen's leader says he will accept transition plan

[underpants]

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- Yemen's embattled president has accepted opposition demands for constitutional reforms and holding parliamentary elections by the end of the year, according to a statement issued by his office.

According to the statement, Saleh "has accepted the five points submitted by the JMP, including formation of a government of national unity and a national committee to draft a new constitution, drafting a new electoral law, and holding a constitutional referendum, parliamentary elections and a presidential vote by the end of the year.

"These accepted proposals have been submitted to the mediating party on the basis that this would end the current state of political turmoil facing the nation and paving the way for a smooth, peaceful and democratic transition," the statement from Saleh's office said.



"Saleh was sending a message to the generals who defected yesterday, telling them, you know you're going to come back, so why not come back now rather than trying to do so later?" said the official, who asked not to be named because of the sensitive situation.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/03/23/yemen.protests/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn

[unkachuck]

1. "Yemen's embattled president...

...has accepted opposition demands for constitutional reforms and holding parliamentary elections by the end of the year,..."

....people power is a beautiful thing....

[joshcryer]

2. Thank God.

[joshcryer]

3. Kick! It needs to be above the other "threatens civil war" post.

I wonder who pulled what strings to get him to step down.

[sabrina 1]

4. I hope the people do not accept the Generals

as their rulers now. It's odd how they all defected now. That would be a good way to hold onto power. Calm the people down and let Saleh stay until the end of the year.

The people need to insiste on open elections and get rid of anyone remaining from the old regime, as they are doing in Egypt and Tunisia. They tried that in those two countries also.

[joshcryer]

5. Article mentions constitutional referendum.

Now we just have to hope it doesn't go like Iran.

[sabrina 1]

6. Good, I hope they follow the example of Egypt and Tunisia

It could end up like Iran, but they have the momentum right now, so hopefully it will not.

[Alamuti Lotus]

7. the examples of Egypt & Tunisia are, so far, mediocre..

A great feat was indeed accomplished in mobilizing the popular force needed to oust the dictator............only to see all fervor channeled into ensuring the military keeps the status quo more or less untouched. In the case of Egypt, the self-appointed military dictatorship under "Mubarak's Poodle", Field Marshal Tantawi, have ensured US/Saudi interests to be secured with the passing of the very-limited constitutional reform package that all-but ensures the Brotherhood (long a tool of the Saudis and the peninsula monarchies) a prominent/dominant position. In Yemen, a similar situation may unfold, seeing Maj.Gen. Ali Muhsin (related to the dictator Saleh) or some other old guard installed to keep business as usual, but with a slightly re-arranged public face.

For all the blood of the great martyrs to date, so far they have merely had a "February Revolution"; "October" cannot come quickly enough--the move to completely eradicate the old systems and spread itself must be taken before any true progress can be counted.

[sabrina 1]

8. I don't think you've been following developments in Egypt

The people are not accepting anything but what they fought for. They expected that the old regime would attempt to hold on to power. They do not support the Generals, they know what they are and they do not want them running the country.

They support the troops and the troops support them, but they do not, and have said so repeatedly, trust the Generals. It will be an ongoing fight, but those people are smart and they anticipated the problems of getting rid of all remnants of the old regime.

Already they are prosecuting members of the regime for the killing of the protesters, as they said they would. And they are prosecuting members of the regime for corruption and intend to take back the money they stole over the years, from the Egyptian people. If only we would do that here. Imagine, prosecuting war criminals and corrupt banksters? And this will send a message to others who were part of the 30 years of oppression and corruption.

I didn't expect instant democracy and neither did they. As they have said repeatedly, removing Mubarak was only the first step. They knew what came after that would be the hard part. But they are going about it methodically and as they have said, it may take another revolution to get what they want, but they will never give up now that they have begun.

[Amonester]

9. Good (for now). I wonder if R2P made $aleh *think* .... (as in: the UN

WORKS!)

Got that? Lurkin' freepers?

(Of course not, as in *never*.)

[PurityOfEssence]

10. Whew.

All the best to them; that was getting scary. I hope they're left alone to work it out amongst themselves.