Yemenis protest against immunity for Saleh

Jan 22, 2012, 9:53 GMT

Sana'a - Tens of thousands of Yemeni protesters took to the streets Sunday denouncing immunity granted to outgoing president Ali Abdullah Saleh as part of a deal to get him to step down.

The Yemeni parliament approved the law on Saturday. It went into effect immediately. The immunity protects Saleh from prosecution for any acts during his 33 years of rule.

Protesters across Yemen have been demanding that Saleh be brought to justice for his alleged involvement in corruption and the death of hundreds of protesters during anti-government protests last year.

'If Saleh and the government want immunity from prosecution, then they should solicit it from the people concerned, who lost their relatives while seeking their rights of a decent life,' said Numan al-Amiry, 28, a protester from Sana'a.

Saleh's immunity is part of a Gulf Cooperation Council-brokered power transition deal aimed at ending the unrest in the country. Early presidential elections are scheduled to be held on February 21.

The parliament also endorsed Saleh's deputy, Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, as a nominee in the presidential election.

Under last-minute amendments to the law, Saleh is to get full immunity, while his aides are to be prosecuted for potential criminal offences, according to the state-run SABA news agency.

The United Nations special envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar, left Sana'a on Sunday after a 10-day visit. He welcomed the amendment limiting the immunity,

Benomar said he is pleased that immunity law has been modified as the UN cannot condone a broad amnesty that covers crimes against humanity, war crimes or gross violations of human rights.