A Gulf mediator was to meet President Ali Abdullah Saleh Sunday in a new bid to resolve Yemen's political crisis despite scepticism from the opposition and as violence raged across the country. Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) Secretary General Abdullatif al-Zayani flew in to Sanaa on Saturday "to achieve a settlement that can satisfy all parties," sources close to the two parties said.
But the opposition seemed unimpressed by Zayani's new attempt to convince Yemen's political rivals to sign a Gulf-brokered plan that would see Saleh out of office within 30 days.
"This mediation does not concern us anymore. Its proponents are concerned about President Saleh and not the Yemeni people who are peacefully resisting a bloody repression," a leading member of Yemen's parliamentary opposition Sultan al-Atwan told AFP. The opposition has not been informed of Zayani's visit in which he is reportedly to bring "new ideas" to convince Saleh to sign the initiative.
"Our Gulf brothers are only concerned with satisfying Saleh, who is trying to buy time in an attempt to save his regime," said Atwan.
However, chief opposition negotiator, Mohamed Salem Basandou, would meet Zayani "if he has anything new" to offer and also "to inform him of our position," said Atwani.
Zayani was to meet Saleh and members of his ruling General People's Congress in the hope of achieving progress in the mediation efforts that stalled after the veteran leader refused to sign.
During Zayani's last visit to the impoverished country in April, Saleh had said he would resign only as party leader, contrary to the demands of the opposition.