Yemen opposition forces signs Gulf deal

May 21, 2011

Sanaa - MAP - The Yemen's opposition forces signed Saturday a Gulf-brokered transition deal that will ease President Ali Abdullah Saleh out of power within a month, provided he ratifies the agreement as promised on Sunday.

Saleh, a shrewd political survivor who has outlasted previous challenges to his nearly 33-year rule, faces mounting diplomatic pressure to sign after backing out twice before over technical details at the last minute.

We signed the initiative in the presence of envoys from the U.S., Britain, the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council secretary-general Abdullatif al-Zayani," the opposition leader, who declined to be named, told Reuters.