Yemen's president Saleh returns to Sanaa
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Xinhua, November 27, 2011
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh arrived in Sanaa Saturday evening after a three-day visit in Saudi Arabia, where he signed a Gulf-brokered deal to transfer power, the state Saba news agency reported.
Saleh also underwent a medical check in Riyadh during his visit for injuries from a bomb attack in June on his Sanaa palace, according to a government official.
Saleh's return was announced hours after Yemeni Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi issued a decree, declaring Feb. 21, 2012 as the date for the early presidential elections in line with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) initiative Saleh signed Wednesday.
The decree said that "no party has the right to annul or change the date."
Under the UN-backed GCC deal, Saleh handed power to his deputy Hadi on Wednesday, in return for immunity from prosecution, which was rejected by some angry protesters.
The deal stipulated the early presidential elections should be held in 90 days.
Government officials said that according to the GCC deal Saleh will retain the title of honorary president until a new leader is elected.
One of the official told Xinhua that "Saleh will take part in overseeing the implementation of the power-transfer deal."
On Saturday, Hadi also instructed the Homeland Security forces to adhere to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2014.
A government official said Hadi will issue another presidential decree regarding the appointment of a new prime minister within 48 hours.
Yemen has been rattled by 10 months of unrest, which almost brought the impoverished Arab state to the verge of civil war and economic collapse.
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