SANA, Yemen — Facing intensifying pressure to leave office, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh told the al-Arabiya television network Saturday that he was prepared to step down “with respect,” even within hours.
But Saleh’s intentions remained unclear, with Yemen’s official news agency, Saba, reporting that a presidential source denied Saleh will step down.
Negotiations were reportedly underway for his possible exit, but Saleh and his opponents have been unable to agree on a timeline or conditions for his departure. Saleh has offered numerous concessions and agreed to step down by the end of the year. Opposition groups have demanded that he resign immediately.
On Saturday, Saleh’s advisers met with the U.S. ambassador, Gerald Feierstein, as well as tribal and military leaders who have defected to the opposition. The Washington Post
