SANAA, Oct 8: Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh said on Saturday he would step down in the next few days after months of protests against his 33-year rule that risked tipping the poor nation into civil war and economic collapse.

“I reject power and I will continue to reject it, and I will be leaving power in the coming days,” Mr Saleh said in a speech on state television.

But opponents were sceptical of the wily political survivor who has backed out of a Gulf-brokered power transition plan three times this year. They argue the speech was a manoeuvre to ease pressure ahead of a briefing to the UN Security Council by UN Yemen envoy Jamal Benomar, who left Sanaa empty-handed after days of shuttle diplomacy between the opposition and the ruling party.

“I call on my supporters to persevere and to confront any challenges,” he said, in his first television appearance with his head uncovered since the bomb attack on his compound in which he was injured.—Reuters