Yemeni president agrees to step down in 30 days

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh 's ruling party and opposition announced Saturday their official acceptance to the amended Gulf-mediated initiative of transferring power as Saleh renewed his warning of potential civil war in case of no reconciliation. The ruling party's online website said on Saturday that Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi submitted their acceptance during the visit of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani.  Meanwhile, spokesman of the opposition Joint Meeting Parties ( JMP) Mohamed Qahtan told Xinhua on Saturday that the JMP officially accepted the recent Gulf plan.

"We officially accept it, but we just has objections about item that the interim government to be sworn in in front of Saleh, we suggest the interim government to be formed after Saleh's resignation," he said.

After signing the Gulf plan, Saleh is set to ask opposition to form a joint national government from all parties within seven days, which is headed by the JMP. The interim government is set to be sworn in in front of Saleh who would then pass power to his deputy in exchange for immunity for him and his family, which is guaranteed by a law to be approved by the parliament.

The plan sets 30 days as deadline for Saleh to announce his resignation after transferring power to his deputy and 60 days for the transitional president and the unity government to hold presidential elections.