Agreement close on transfer of power from Yemen's veteran President

A Yemen government minister has disclosed that an agreement is close on a transfer of power from Yemen's veteran President, Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Reports are that after six weeks of protests, Saleh has said he is willing to step down this year.



Observers say this is the first time the government has confirmed that President Saleh is negotiating the terms of his departure.



But anti Saleh demonstrators who have been protesting are demanding that he goes immediately. The indication of Saleh’s imminent departure comes a day after tens of thousands people attended rival mass rallies in the capital Sanaa.



Last week 50 demonstrators were shot dead at an anti-government protest.