RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 1 (UPI) -- Yemen's embattled president said he would not sign an agreement on a transition of power brokered by his Persian Gulf neighbors.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh was supposed to take part in a signing ceremony in Saudi Arabia Sunday; however, the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation said the ceremony had been canceled, Press TV reported.
Press TV said Saleh had been set to sign a deal negotiated with the opposition Joint Forum but backed out on Saturday.
The reasons for Saleh's flip flop were not clear; however, the agreement gave him 30 days to leave the office he has occupied for more than 30 years.
Saleh's security forces have been locking horns with thousands of protesters since January. The opposition has called Saleh corrupt and blamed him for the country's slumping economy and failure to enact political reforms.
