Yemeni officials say outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh will leave soon to Oman, en route to medical treatment in the United States.

Washington has been trying to get Saleh out of Yemen _ though not to settle in the U.S. _ to allow a peaceful transition from his rule. However, there appear to be differences whether Saleh would remain in exile.

Senior ruling party official Mohammed al-Shayef says Saleh will return to Yemen to head the party after treatment. Al-Shayef tells The Associated Press that Saleh will leave for Oman in the coming days, then head to America.

An official in the prime minister's office, however, says Saleh is "supposed to go back to Oman" after the U.S. He says Saleh's son Ahmed is currently in Oman arranging a residence.