SANAA, Yemen, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- On the eve of presidential elections in Yemen, President Ali Abdullah Saleh promised to stand by the people of Yemen "through thick and thin."
Yemen last year was caught up in the so-called Arab Spring. Hundreds of people were killed in clashes between pro-government forces and opponents of Saleh.
Saleh late last year agreed to step down as president under terms of a transition deal brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council, which granted him immunity from prosecution.
In a farewell statement published by the official Saba news agency, Saleh said the election would lead the country out of an "acute and bitter crisis."
"I will remain with you as a citizen loyal to his homeland, people and nation as you have known me through thick and thin, performing my duty and my role in serving the country and its just issues through the ruling General People's Congress," he was quoted by Saba as saying.
Thousands of protesters are camped out in the central square in Sanaa. Tribal and political leaders in the country's south have called for a boycott of the election and polling stations Monday were attacked by militants, the BBC reports.
Houthi leaders, who fought with pro-government forces in 2010, have also called for a boycott of Tuesday's vote.
The BBC reports there isn't a minimum turnout needed to validate the vote. Vice President Abdurabu Mansur Hadi is in the only candidate on the ballot.
