Yemen's president offers to form unity government
Yemen's president has offered to form a unity government with opponents who want him out of office - provided protests against him stop.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh's latest overture yesterday came a day before opponents are to stage "a day of rage" around the country to push for his removal.
The long-time leader has come under mounting pressure in recent weeks to step down, with large anti-government rallies being held daily, and key allies, including some tribal chiefs, abandoning him.
Opposition figure Mohammed Saleh al-Qubati rejected Mr Saleh's offer, saying he should step down instead of offering outdated "tranquillisers".
Mr Saleh's efforts to stay in power appeared to receive another blow when the leader of the Baqil tribe - the second largest in Yemen - called on him to "do what the people want and take important and rapid decisions that meet the demands of the people".
Sheikh Amin al-Okeimy, a member of Mr Saleh's ruling Congress Party, said in a statement that the tribe stands by "the people until they achieve all their goals".
The statement came two days after a pair of powerful chiefs from Mr Saleh's own tribe, Hashid, abandoned him.
Mr Saleh, who has been in power for 32 years, has promised to step down after national elections in 2013, but that has not stopped the protests.
He told religious leaders yesterday that leaving office cannot be just his decision, but needs to also be that of the people.
"I am ready to form a national unity government" when the opposition names its candidates for government posts, he said, adding that it should happen after protests end.
The president accused his opponents of "planning to reach power through chaos".
He warned that Yemen was going through a difficult period, and if the country collapsed, it would not "split into southern and northern parts, but it will be torn apart to four or five sectors".
Beyond the unrest of protesters, the impoverished country has a separatist movement in the south and an active branch of al Qaida.
