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US to Yemen's Saleh: Get Out

White House calls for 'immediate transition'

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 11, 2011 8:38 AM CDT

(Newser) – The White House is not-so-subtly telling Yemen's embattled president to hit the road, with top counterterror adviser John Brennan telling Ali Abdullah Saleh yesterday to “fulfill expeditiously” his pledge to step down. Brennan “called upon” Saleh “to sign the GCC-brokered agreement for peaceful and Constitutional political transition in Yemen,” according to a White House statement. The pledge offers him immunity from prosecution in exchange for his resignation, notes Politico.

“The United States believes that a transition in Yemen should begin immediately so that the Yemeni people can realize their aspirations,” the statement says. Saleh, who looked terrible in a recent televised statement, appeared “in much better shape” at the meeting in Saudi Arabia, noted al-Jazeera.

This file photo shows White House counterterrorism chief John Brennan. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Anti-government protestors shout slogans during a demonstration demanding the resignation of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, July 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)

In this April 8, 2011 file photo, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh is shown during a rally in Sanaa,Yemen. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

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US to Yemen's Saleh: Get Out

White House calls for 'immediate transition'

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Saudi Arabia • resignation • Yemen • al-Jazeera • Obama administration • President Obama • John Brennan • Ali Abdullah Saleh • Yemen protests

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