Yemen opposition tells Saleh to hand over to deputy

Yemen's opposition on Saturday told embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh to hand over power to his deputy with whom a deal on a transitional period could be negotiated, a statement said.

In a new "vision for a peaceful and secure transition of power" the Common Forum of opposition parties and their allies urged Saleh "to announce his resignation, so that his powers pass to his deputy."

The president, in power for 32 years, has said he is prepared to leave eventually but an abrupt exit would cause chaos. On Saturday, he thanked thousands of supporters gathered near the presidential palace for backing the constitution.

"I salute you for your heroic stand and thank you for supporting constitutional legitimacy," he told the crowd amid a sea of his portraits and banners supporting his continued rule.

An opposition source told Reuters Saleh wanted to stay on as president until new parliamentary and presidential elections are organised by the end of the year.

Weeks of protests inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia have brought Saleh's rule to the verge of collapse, but the United States and neighbouring oil giant Saudi Arabia worry who might succeed him in a country where al Qaeda fighters flourish.

Opposition’s vision

The opposition plan would see the army and security forces restructured by a vice-president acting as temporary president. Wide discussions could then be held on constitutional changes, a unity government and new elections, said a statement from Yemen's opposition coalition.

Analysts said the restructuring would aim to cut what is now broad influence by relatives and allies of Saleh over the military and security forces.

Tens of thousands of people, both for and against Saleh, have taken to the streets in the capital Sanaa as negotiators struggle to revive talks to determine his fate.

Protests

In the western port of Hudaida, seven protesters were wounded when riot police used batons and teargas to disperse demonstrators calling for Saleh's resignation, residents said.

Thousands of anti-Saleh protesters holding a weeks-long sit-in outside Sanaa University marched towards the presidential palace but were turned back by security forces blocking the streets, residents said. There were no clashes and the protesters returned to their tent city.

Protesters in Aden called for a general strike and acts of civil disobedience, closing down public transport and prompting many shops to close. Troops fired in the air to disperse young people blocking roads, witnesses said.

Saleh, who has lost the support of many tribal, military and political backers, met representatives of several tribes, officials said.

"President Saleh and his entourage are still involved in their crimes and continue to refuse to understand the demands of the people," Yemen's opposition coalition said in a statement.

Talks over his exit have stalled and Saudi authorities have deflected Yemeni government efforts to involve them in mediation.

Rallies could spiral into violence at any time in the turbulent Arabian Peninsula state where more than half the 23 million population own a gun. Some 82 people have been killed so far, including 52 shot by snipers on March 18.

Washington has long regarded Saleh as a bulwark of stability who can keep al Qaeda from extending its foothold in a country which many see as close to disintegration. Opposition parties say they can handle militants better than Saleh, who they say made deals in the past to avoid provoking Islamists.

Saleh has talked of civil war if he steps down without ensuring power passes to "safe hands", and has warned against a coup after senior generals turned against him.

A well-known journalist, Abdul Ghani al-Shameri, who had been taken away by armed men believed to be security officers late on Friday, was freed unharmed, relatives said on Saturday.

Shamiri had run several television channels including state TV and recently resigned from the ruling party.