Saleh receives immunity, stepping down

SANAA, Yemen, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh will receive complete immunity from prosecution under a controversial law approved Saturday by the country's parliament.

In exchange for immunity, Saleh will resign next month after more than 33 years in office, CNN reported.

The law had been delayed for weeks while Saleh demanded assurances his aides would receive partial protection from legal actions.

The parliament also accepted Vice President Abdurabu Hadi's nomination for the presidency.

Yemeni Information Minister Ali al-Amrani called the law a breakthrough as the country prepares to elect a president Feb. 21.

"The law was a pivotal point of debate, and now we are looking forward to Feb. 21 [when] a president would lead the country," al-Amrani said.

"Many changes took place in the law to make it accepted by all factions, but in the end, the efforts were worth it."

Neighboring countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council brokered the deal.

Since Saleh signed the deal in November, tens of thousands of young Yemeni activists have demonstrated, pledging to have Saleh tried for the deaths of hundreds of unarmed protesters.

The deal won support from the opposition parties but young protesters and international rights groups said the immunity violated international law.

Demonstrations continued Saturday, with protesters rejecting immunity for Saleh or any of those those who served under him.

The Revolution Youth Organizing Committee said protests took place in 13 provinces.