Gulf states urge dialogue in Yemen

SANAA, Yemen, April 4 (UPI) -- Members of the Gulf Cooperation Council announced that all parties in Yemen should sit for talks aimed at ending months of political violence.

More than a dozen people were killed Monday when Yemeni security forces fired on protesters calling for an end to the regime of President Abdullah Ali Saleh, a united Yemen's first and only president.

"The GCC calls on all parties in Yemen to return to national dialogue," Arab News quoted GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif al-Zayani as saying. "We respect the Yemeni people's will and choices that would ensure the country's unity, security and stability."

The country's foreign ministry added that Yemeni leaders welcomed "any ideas" presented by members of the GCC, the official Saba news agency reports.

Saleh affirmed Sunday his readiness to discuss handing over power under a constitutional process. The embattled president has made a series of concessions to members of the opposition though his opponents continue to call for his immediate resignation.

Saleh met Monday with tribal leaders in the province of Saada to discuss the turmoil in the country. He vowed to return life to normal as soon as possible, Saba added.