Gulf Arab ambassadors were to meet Yemen opposition figures today to urge them to join mediation talks as protesters around the country again demanded an end to President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 32-year rule.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) invited government and opposition representatives on Monday to talks in Saudi Arabia, at a date yet to be set, while the United States pressed the veteran political survivor to negotiate with his opponents.
US defence secretary Robert Gates visited Saudi Arabia today and was to discuss the unrest sweeping the region with King Abdullah, whose kingdom borders Yemen and is grappling with internal pressures of its own.
Mr Saleh, who ignored a transition-of-power plan offered by the opposition on Saturday, accepted the GCC invitation yesterday and urged the opposition to follow suit. So did Ali Mohsen, the prominent general who turned against Saleh last month. There was no sign of a shift in position by Mr Saleh despite the pressure, however.
He has insisted for weeks he will leave once he has overseen parliamentary and presidential elections this year.
"The president will not leave his historic role early, before the transition of power. . . . This issue is important," Saleh adviser Ahmad al-Soufi told Al Arabiya television.
The ambassadors of Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia are to meet the government side today as well as representatives of the opposition coalition, which has been non-committal so far.
Saleh supporters clashed with protesters and army units protecting them in Sanaa yesterday, resulting in three deaths.
Reuters