Yemen president Saleh 'to step down'

For nearly nine months anti-government protesters have rallied for the ouster of President Saleh Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh has announced that he will leave power in the coming days after the country has been largely paralysed by nearly nine months of mass protests against his 33-year rule

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"I reject power and I will continue to reject it, and I will be leaving power in the coming days," he said on Saturday in a speech on state television.
The capital, Sanaa, has been gripped by months of peaceful protests, as well as street battles between the elite Republican Guards, led by Saleh's son, and tribesmen opposing Saleh as well as military units who had defected.
Saleh has been clinging to his position while opposition and ruling party representatives cast about for a formula to see through a transition-of-power deal.