(Image source: Arabya Today)

 
BY SHELLY YANG 
 
ANCHOR LAUREN GORES
 
 
Another toppled leader in the ongoing Arab Spring. Yemen’s Ali Abdullah Saleh signs a deal to hand over power. Following the likes of Ben Ali, Mubarack and Gaddafi, he now becomes the fourth Arab leader to leave office this year.

In so doing, Mr. Saleh makes good on his agreement to transfer power. Before the deal happened, an Al Jazeera analyst explains the pressures on Mr. Saleh to sign.    

“...now the UN is here with their envoy, who has been hosting negotiation and basically shuffling between the two separate parties. Effectively, all cards on the table because internationally the pressure is at the highest point this year. So the president has been delaying and delaying, people say the pressure could be unbearable at the minute.”

Perhaps more importantly, Mr. Saleh is getting what he wanted. The Gulf Arab states have agreed to grant him immunity from prosecution. But according to the New York Times, that is not sitting well with Yemenis.

“Youth activists have said the agreement and in particular the immunity clauses would not satisfy thousands of demonstrators still camped in city squares throughout the country, demanding trials for Mr. Saleh and members of his government in connection with the killings of scores of demonstrators.”

Under the terms of agreement, Mr. Saleh will transfer his power to his deputy. London’s Financial Times describes this transfer as lenient to Saleh.

“... the vice-president, is a trusted member of the ruling party, and while considered an agreeable interim president by the range of Yemeni political factions and a likely consensus candidate for the proposed early elections, he has been careful only to exercise powers that Mr Saleh has expressly delegated to him.”

Even as Saleh steps down, there is still plenty of discord to overcome. The Los Angeles Times explains,

“His possible departure will leave his poor and battered nation facing an uncertain fate as tribes position for power, a secessionist movement rumbles in the south and a resurgent Al Qaeda branch battles security forces in towns and villages.”

And Bloomberg reports that uncertainty is a key concern for the United States and its Gulf Arab allies, particularly Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. and Gulf countries have wanted to resolve the Yemeni conflict to reduce instability along the border with Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter. Increasing social unrest may strengthen al-Qaeda as it seeks to use Yemen, the poorest Arab nation, as a base from which to destabilize Saudi Arabia.

According to the Associated Press, Saleh will now seek medical treatment in New York for injuries suffered during an assassination attempt on his life in June.

World News

Yemen's Saleh Signs Deal to Transfer Power

November 23, 2011
(2:30)
Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh has signed a deal to end his 33-year rule and hand over power to his vice president.
   
TRANSCRIPT

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