President Saleh Again Nears Signing of Agreement to Step Down

Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh is again nearing a moment of truth in which he will sign an agreement promulgated by the Gulf States that will end his 33-year hold on power. Three times before, Saleh reneged on a brokered deal at the last moment. He arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, reportedly prepared to conclude the deal brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council at a ceremony in Riyadh. Power will be transferred to Saleh’s vice president in return for immunity from prosecution. The ongoing violence in poor Yemen has prompted fears of civil war and its wealthy neighbor Saudi Arabia has been fearful that the unrest could spread.