By IANS,
Sana’a : The Yemeni government Tuesday hailed the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers’ invitation to hold conciliation talks with the opposition in Riyadh. But the Yemeni opposition, accepting the invitation, demanded that President Ali Abdullah Saleh should immediately transfer power to his deputy.
The government welcomed the initiative of the Arab Gulf’s foreign ministers for conciliation talks in Riyadh in order to stave off chaos in Yemen, Xinhua cited official Saba news agency as stating.
The opposition Joint Meeting Parties (JMP), in response, welcomed the initiative, but insisted that Saleh should immediately transfer power and resign from his post as president, JMP’s spokesman Mohamed Qahtan told Xinhua.
He described the offer as the “last chance” for Saleh.
“More blood is shed everyday during the current crisis … so our country can not bear any more postponement of transferring power from Saleh,” he added.
Yemen has witnessed weeks-long anti-government protests demanding an immediate end to the 33-year rule of President Saleh.
Clashes between government police and supporters and protesters reportedly continued Tuesday in major provinces of Sana’a, Taiz, Al-Hodayda, Al-Bayda, Aden, Abyan, Ibb and Hadramout.