Report: Yemen's Saleh to leave US on February 18

Feb 10, 2012, 8:22 GMT

Sana'a- Yemen's outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh is to leave the United States for an unknown destination on February 18, news website Mareb Press reported Friday, citing a Yemeni official source.

Saleh's departure from the US follows pressure from Yemeni activists and US media, added the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Last weekend, Yemeni protesters attempted to throw their shoes at Saleh outside his residence in New York, but were stopped by police, according to the report.

Saleh, 69, arrived in the US for medical treatment in late January.

He was severely wounded in June during an attack on the presidential palace in the Yemeni capital Sana'a.

After ruling Yemen for 33 years, Saleh signed a United Nations-sponsored deal in November granting him immunity from prosecution in return for relinquishing power.

His opponents are pressing for his prosecution, for allegedly ordering a deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protesters during an uprising that started last February.

Yemen is being ruled by acting president Abd Rabbu Mansur Hadi in Saleh's absence.

Hadi is the sole contender in an early presidential election scheduled for February 21.