Yemen deal falls through at last minute

A DEAL on a transition of power in Yemen fell through at the last minute yesterday, even as Washington stepped up pressure on President Ali Abdullah Saleh to sign a Gulf-brokered agreement to ease him out of office.

Heavy diplomatic wrangling by Western and Gulf diplomats keen to resolve the three-month stand-off had secured an agreement in principle that would see Saleh resign within a month.

But last-minute snags over details derailed the deal that would have granted Saleh immunity from prosecution, allowing him a dignified exit from power in the Arabian peninsula state he has ruled for nearly 33 years.