Yemen president makes election call

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Source: Reuters

The Yemeni president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, called for early elections on Sunday in his first speech since returning to Yemen, but his latest peace formula is unlikely to appease protesters who want nothing less than his immediate departure.

Saleh, speaking as a sixth day of violence raised the death toll to more than 100 lives, said he was committed to transferring power through elections.

Since the crisis began in January, when protesters took to the streets demanding that he resign, the embattled president has made lavish proposals to end the violence but followed up on none that entail him surrendering power.

Saleh, who returned from Saudi Arabia on Friday – where he sought treatment after a June assassination attempt – reiterated his acceptance of a power transfer and said the vice president retained authority to hold talks with the opposition.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/25/yemen-president-makes-election-call