Will Yemen's protesters accept Saleh's resignation deal?
The country's struggling president agrees to step down in exchange for immunity. But not everyone in the opposition is willing to accept his terms

Yemen's opposition is divided over whether to accept a deal granting embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his family immunity in exchange for his surrendering power in 30 days. Established opposition parties have tentatively approved the bargain, negotiated by neighboring Arab countries, but young protesters demanding far-reaching reforms say Saleh must "resign or flee" — and be brought to justice for his regime's alleged corruption. Is immunity for Saleh too high a price for change in Yemen?
The priority should be getting rid of Saleh: The revolutionary spirit of Yemen's young protesters is admirable, says Rick Moran at The American Thinker. But if this deal doesn't go through, some fear that "the unrest in the country will allow al Qaeda and its affiliates to run wild." So the smart move for the opposition is to "keep 'the youth' out of it and get this tyrant out of there."
"Yemen president may step down"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Immunity could be a deal breaker: It may be impossible to implement the deal as it's written, says Mike Vilensky at New York. In exchange for Saleh's departure, and the formation of a unity government within seven days of his departure, the president wants his rivals to halt increasingly volatile demonstrations. But young people won't stop protesting if Saleh is allowed to get away with abuses committed during his 32-year rule, "especially after pro-government snipers killed 52 protesters earlier this month."
"President of Yemen offers resignation deal that grants him immunity"
Chaos will continue in Yemen, regardless: Hold-outs fear that the proposal is just a ploy to buy Saleh time, says Jason Ditz at Antiwar.com. But even if he really goes away, "the months of protest were about more than just replacing Saleh with a new military ruler." Several provinces have fallen out of the government's control, so the new regime's problems are "sure to linger long past any potential deals between political factions."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Here We Are: Stephen Sondheim's 'utterly absorbing' final musical
The Week Recommends The musical theatre legend's last work is 'witty, wry and suddenly wise'
-
The Trial: 'sharp' legal drama with a 'clever' script
The Week Recommends Channel 5's one-off show imagines a near future where parents face trial for their children's crimes
-
Riefenstahl: a 'gripping and incrementally nauseating' documentary
The Week Recommends Andres Veiel's nuanced film examines whether the controversial film director was complicit in Nazi war crimes
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy