SANAA: U.N. envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar said Tuesday that a compromise was possible between the regime and the opposition despite outstanding issues between both sides after months of bitter conflict.
“If there is political will, a compromise is possible” between Yemeni rivals, said Benomar who returned to Sanaa Nov. 10 to resume mediation between the impoverished country’s government and the opposition.

“There is an agreement on the outlines of a settlement, but there are still outstanding issues that need to be resolved,” he added.

The U.N. backs a Gulf plan under which President Ali Abdullah Saleh would hand power to his deputy, Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, in return for immunity from prosecution for himself and members of his family.
Saleh has welcomed but has yet to sign off on the Gulf plan which is aimed at resolving the country’s crisis.

“A lot has been achieved. There is an agreement on the organization and the management of the transition period,” Benomar said. “But differences remain over the beginning of the transition – mainly one the powers of the vice president and the status of President Saleh.”
Saleh Monday told French TV channel France 24 that he has “never refused to sign it” but wanted to “read it and work on a mechanism” to implement it.

Saleh, who has been clinging to power for 33 years, said “sure, sure,” when asked if he intends on stepping down.
“When the Gulf initiative is agreed upon and signed and when a time frame is set for its implementation, and elections take place, the president will leave,” Saleh told France 24, adding the whole process would take 90 days. “He who holds on to power is crazy,” he said.

Several hundred people have been killed since protests against the president that erupted in January degenerated into battles between rival troops backed by tribesmen from both sides.
A Moroccan militant leader was killed when Yemen’s army shelled the city of Zinjibar Monday. Addul-Ghaffour Hashem al-Zayati, known as Abu Mughira, was killed along with some companions, Yemeni daily Akhbar al-Youm reported.