Sana'a: Yemeni tribal and religious leaders agreed with the main opposition parties on Wednesday to give President Ali Abdullah Saleh a chance for a peaceful and smooth transfer of power within a maximum time period of nine months.
“We have agreed with clerics and sheikhs on a five-point plan to enter into a dialogue with the ruling party,” said Dr. Mohammad Abdul Malik Al Mutawakil, the chairman of the supreme council of the opposition coalition, which includes the Islamists, Socialists and Nasserites.
According to the five-point plan, power should be transferred peacefully and smoothly in a time not later than the end of this year, said Al Mutawakil.
Saleh had earlier said he would not run for office when his current term ends on September 20, 2013, and that his son would not succeed him, to which the opposition had responded by asking for concrete guarantees.
The second point of the plan was that all Yemenis should be free to hold peaceful demonstrations and sit-ins.
Further, a committee should be formed to investigate the attacks against protesters and all perpetrators of attacks and violence should be held accountable brought to justice.
The fourth point said all families of the martyrs should be compensated and those injured should be treated at the expense of the State.
The last point of the plan asked for all forces and parties of the political process inside and outside Yemen without exception to be involved in the discussions, Al Mutawakil told the reporters on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a presidential directive established an investigatory committee into the recent outbreaks of violence in the city of Aden.
The committee will be headed by Minister of State Abdul Qader Helal and includes the Deputy Attorney General, Deputy Minister of Local Affairs, Chairwoman of the National Womens’ Commettie and Dean of the Lawyers’ Union.
Seven-point plan
On Monday, the tribal and religious leaders had suggested a seven-point plan to President Saleh who added one more point before he agreed on it.
The point Saleh added was that the demonstrations and sit-ins should stop.
The plan was read to President Saleh, in presence of all Yemeni clerics and some tribal leaders in the Al Saleh Grand Mosque by Shaikh Abdul Majid Al Zandani, the most influential cleric in the largest Islamist opposition party, Islah. It was as follows:
1. All parties are to end demonstrations and sit-ins to bring an end to street congestion, chaos, destruction of public and private properties.
2. All parties are to end inciting and provocative media campaigns in order to create a suitable environment for national dialogue.
3. Establishment of a mediation committee to end political disputes. Five prominent judges will be selected for the committee by the parties. The GPC will choose two judges, the JMP will also select two and the Committee of Religious Scholars will choose the fifth member.
4. The release of prisoners who have not been proven guilty or don’t have pending court cases.
5. Forming a national unity government (coalition government).
6. Intensifying anti-corruption investigations and activities by speeding up the prosecution of pending cases.
7. The withdrawal of the current election and referendum draft laws. Parliament will have to approve a new law with the consensus of both parties - ruling and opposition.
8. The withdrawal of proposed constitutional amendments.