Yemen’s Saleh willing to cede power but to ‘safe hands’

PRESIDENT Ali Abdullah Saleh indicated he was ready to cede power to stop more bloodshed in Yemen but only to what he called “safe hands” as tens of thousands rallied against him in “Day of Departure” protests.

Western countries are alarmed that al-Qaida militants entrenched in the Arabian Peninsula country could exploit any disorder arising from a messy transition of power if Saleh, a pivotal US and Saudi ally fighting for his political life, finally steps down after 32 years in office.

“We don’t want power, but we need to hand power over to safe hands, not to sick, resentful or corrupt hands,” Saleh said in a rousing speech to supporters shown on state television as tens of thousands of his foes rallied elsewhere in the capital Sanaa.