Calling for calm
December 25, 2011
Yemen's acting president, Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, called on political leaders in the country to de-escalate tensions a day after a protest march turned deadly.
On Sautrday, a march of thousands that set forth from distant city of Taiz days ago reached the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, where they were met with gunfire that killed nine people.
The protesters were marching on Sanaa to demonstrate against a deal that granted President Ali Abdullah Saleh immunity from prosecution in exchange for turning power over to Hadi. They want to see him tried for deaths that have occurred over the past year during protests against him.
"It is necessary for all political forces and parties to shun any activities or acts that would run counter to the historic political settlement," Hadi was quoted by the state news agency SABA.
His remarks came during a meeting with the United States' ambassador to Yemen, Gerald Feierstein.
Four-day march
Taiz, the starting point of the march, is about 200 kilometers (125 miles) away from Sanaa. Protesters left on Wednesday to arrive in Sanaa on Saturday.
Yemen is currently preparing for elections in February designed to replace Saleh, who has been in power for 33 years.
The youth-led demonstrators against Saleh have condemned the opposition parties - some of which once gave their backing to the outgoing president - for agreeing to the immunity deal.
Marching past the office of Hadi, protesters denounced him as a "tool in the hands" of Saleh. Activists are angry that the former leader's relatives still hold key positions in the military.
"We are fed up with this tragic farce deal that gives immunity but is impotent to force Saleh's troops out of the main streets," activist Ahmed Ghilan told the news agency AP.
On Saturday, Saleh said he would leave Yemen for the United States to allow the interim government to prepare for February's election.
He was not clear when he would actually leave for the US, but did indicate he would return someday.
Author: Matt Zuvela (Reuters, dpa)
Editor: Ben Knight