Sanaa, Novmber 24, 2011 (SPS) - Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, has signed a deal to transfer power to his vice president ending his rule of more than 30 years. The agreement follows nine months of protests in Yemen.
The deal was signed at the royal palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Under the agreement, Saleh transfers his powers to his deputy Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. In return he will retain the title of president until a new head of state is elected.
Hadi will form a new government with the opposition and call an early presidential election within three months. News of the deal prompted celebrations all over Yemen which has been on the brink of civil war. Saleh is the fourth leader to be forced from power following mass protests that have swept the Arab world
The United States welcomed the deal. State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said: "The United States applauds the Yemeni government and the opposition for agreeing to a peaceful and orderly transition of power." He also added that the deal marked "a significant step for the Yemeni people". (SPS)
Source: SABC
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