Saleh scorned for GCC refusal

SANAA, Yemen, May 23 (UPI) -- Washington scorned the Yemeni president for refusing to sign a transition deal, though he told the country it was the opposition that was part of the problem.

Embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh refused to a sign deal brokered by the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council that called for his resignation in return for immunity from prosecution.

Saleh during a speech marking the country's National Day blamed the unrest simmering in his country for much of the year on members of the opposition.

"Many innocent citizens have been killed as a result of the wrong mobilization of the so-called Joint Meeting Parties and the toll has reached almost 145 martyrs, and 3,318 casualties," he was quoted by the official Saba news agency as saying. "They are the ones who were calling for a peaceful transition of power; they are the ones who want to reach power through rivers of the citizens' blood."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a statement expressed deep disappointment in Saleh's refusal to sign the GCC initiative because he wanted more conditions. She said the embattled leader is turning his back on the aspirations of the Yemeni people.

"We urge him to immediately follow through on his repeated commitments to peacefully and orderly transfer power and ensure the legitimate will of the Yemeni people is addressed," she said. "The time for action is now."