Yemen opposition parties asked Gulf Arab mediators today to spell out whether President Ali Abdullah Saleh would hand over power early under their proposal to end the country's two-month-old crisis.
Gulf Arab foreign ministers said this week they would invite Mr Saleh and the opposition coalition to mediation talks on a transition of power in Riyadh, a key financier of Sanaa that analysts say Mr Saleh trusts.
The opposition rejected yesterday a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) statement on the framework for the talks because it appeared to offer Mr Saleh a waiver from any future prosecution, demanded by the protest movement in the streets of Sanaa since February.
An opposition delegation met the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait today seeking clarification of the the GCC understanding of a "transfer of power", which does not specify a time frame for Mr Saleh to step down.
"We want written details on how power will be transferred from the president to his deputy," said Mohammed al-Mutawakkil, a senior figure in the coalition of opposition parties.
"Does that mean all his authorities or some of them? If he stays in his position but without authorities, does that mean he will have the right to interfere in government, army and security decisions? During what time frame will he then leave?"
The opposition source said talks could start as early as Saturday in Riyadh, with a government delegation headed by Mr Saleh's deputy, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and an opposition team including party leaders and some youth activists.
Mr Saleh accepted the Gulf framework, after state media initially suggested the government would reject it.
A transfer of power could technically last until the next presidential elections scheduled for 2013. Mr Saleh has offered new parliamentary and presidential elections this year as part of political reforms, but says he should stay in power to oversee the change or hand over to what he calls "safe hands".
While protesters want Mr Saleh out now, some in the opposition, which includes Islamists, leftists and Arab nationalists, are prepared for him to stay in power for several months more before handing over to his vice-president.
Gen Ali Mohsen, a kinsman of Mr Saleh whose units are protecting protesters in Sanaa, has welcomed the GCC plan.
South Yemenis, who complain of marginalisation after a civil war with the north led by Mr Saleh in 1994, warned that any deal must include their voice.
More than 100 people have died in clashes with security forces since February that escalated last week.
Twelve Islamist militants and four soldiers died in clashes yesterday in the southern province of Abyan, seen as a hotbed of al-Qaeda activity, government sources said.
Reuters