Power deal fail to halt killings in Yemen

They were demanding that the deposed leader be put on trial for crimes ranging from corruption to bloodshed during the uprising.

Mr Saleh signed the power-transfer deal, brokered by neighbouring countries, on Wednesday in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

It officially transfers power to his vice president, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

But many doubt that the deal marks the end of political life for Mr Saleh, who has proved to be a wily politician and suggested in remarks after the signing ceremony that he could play a future political role in the country, with his ruling party.

He had agreed to sign the deal three times before, only to back away at the last minute.

The tens of thousands of protesters in Yemen, who have distanced themselves from the formal opposition movement, rejected the immunity clause, saying Mr Saleh should face justice for allegations of corruption by the regime as well as the recent bloodshed as his forces try to put down the uprising against his 33-year rule.

Demonstrators camped out in the capital, Sanaa, chanted “No immunity for the killer” and pledged to continue protests.

Field hospital medic Gameela Abdullah said security forces and government supporters opened fire on them, killing five.

The deal – which transferred power to the vice president and calls for presidential elections within 90 days – could open the way to a messy power struggle, although a national unity government is supposed to oversee a two-year transitional period.

Among those possibly vying for power are Mr Saleh’s son and nephew, who command the country’s best-equipped military units; tribal leaders; and the commander of a renegade battalion.

Mr Saleh had stubbornly clung to power despite nearly 10 months of huge street protests in which hundreds of people were killed by his security forces.