Yemen's Saleh reaches out to opponents

SANAA, Yemen, April 5 (UPI) -- Embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, during a tribal conference Tuesday, called on his opponents to join him at the negotiating table.

Yemeni violence is intensifying after weeks of protests against a unified Yemen's first and only president. Saleh has offered a series of concessions to his opponents, who continue to call for his immediate resignation.

Saleh welcomed tribal leaders and community officials for talks in the province of Sanaa. He expressed his support for the country's constitution and renounced all acts of violence aimed at harming the principles of the country, the official Saba news agency reports.

He called on members of the opposition to return to the negotiating table and stop acting against the state, the report added.

Clashes between protesters and security forces in Taez left at least 16 people dead and hundreds injured Monday. Further violence was reported in the region Tuesday. Though there were no reports on casualties, al-Jazeera said security forces and plain-clothed policemen fired on protesters in the city.

White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters Monday that Washington supports negotiations for "a peaceful transition of power" in Yemen.