Yemeni opposition says Saleh “maneuvering”

A deal on a peaceful transition of power in Yemen could come as early as Saturday and would be based on an offer by President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down by year-end, Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi said.

But an opposition leader cast doubt on prospects for a swift deal, a day after a diplomat in Sanaa cautioned it was too soon to discuss an outcome, saying it could still “go either way.”

Yemen has been in turmoil since January when the example of the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions set off popular demonstrations to end Saleh’s 32-year authoritarian rule.

“I hope it will be today, before tomorrow,” Qirbi, who is serving as caretaker foreign minister, told Reuters in an interview, adding that the time frame of a transfer of power by Saleh could be negotiated.

Saleh, who oversaw the 1990 unification of north and south Yemen and emerged victorious from a civil war four years later, told tribes in Sanaa Saturday that he would “work to avoid bloodshed using all possible means.”

He said Friday he was ready to relinquish power to forestall more bloodshed but only to what he called “safe hands” after weeks of street demonstrations demanding his departure.

More than 80 people have been killed since anti-government protests started in January to demand the departure of Saleh. But the tide against Saleh appears to have turned after plainclothes snipers loyal to the president fired into an anti-government crowd, killing 52 people last Friday.

That led to a string of defections that badly eroded Saleh’s position including by top military commanders such as General Ali Mohsen, as well as ambassadors, lawmakers, provincial governors and tribal leaders, some from his own tribe.

A source close to Mohsen, who has thrown his weight behind protesters, said he and Saleh had weighed a deal in which both would leave the country, taking their sons and relatives with them to pave the way for a civilian transitional government.

The leader of Yemen’s opposition coalition said the sides still had significant differences, and that while there were some contacts he did not consider them as negotiations.

“We still have a very big gap,” said Yassin Noman, the rotating head of Yemen’s opposition coalition. “I think he is maneuvering.”