Dubai: Representatives of the Yemeni opposition met with Gulf foreign ministers in Riyadh on Sunday to explain the opposition's demands and seek more details on a Gulf initiative, which includes the departure of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
"We will explain our position," said Yassin Saeed No'man, secretary-general of Yemeni Socialist Party and current head of the opposition common forum, before leaving for Riyadh.
In focus: Unrest in the Middle East
The opposition delegation is headed by Mohammad Salem Basandawah, former foreign minister.
It also comprises Abdul Wahab Al Ansi, secretary-general of the leading opposition Islamic party of Al Islah, and Sultan Al Atwani, secretary-general of the Nasserite Unionist People's Organisation.
"We, as political parties, will say our perspective in the Gulf initiative," No'man said.
"We will explain during our visit to Saudi Arabia why we have accepted the initiative and why we are sticking to it," he told Gulf News in reference to the "first" Gulf initiative proposed to the opposition during their meeting with three Gulf Ambassadors in Sana'a on April 3.
The initiative calls for Saleh to step down, while guaranteeing him and his family immunity from prosecution, and the formation of a national unity government.
However, a GCC plan announced last Sunday doesn't clearly call for Saleh's ouster.
Instead, it said Saleh should hand over his power to his deputy, and talked about "the formation of a national unity government under the leadership of the opposition which has the right to form committees …to draw up a constitution and hold elections".
Conditions
The government welcomed the plan, while the opposition was not forthcoming.
Apart from the April 3 initiative, No'man stressed that the opposition's political parties will accept nothing else.
One of the conditions of the opposition — for travelling to Saudi Arabia — was that their visit shouldn't coincide with that of an official Yemeni delegation.
"We told them [Arab Gulf officials] we will not meet with the delegation from the government. We also said if we find out there is a Yemeni official delegation there, we will leave," he said.
The Yemeni government has not sent a delegation to Riyadh, Ahmad Al Sufi, Saleh's spokesperson said.
Interpretations
"The government is in contact [with Gulf officials] through the ministry of foreign affairs," Al Sufi told Gulf News.
According to Al Sufi, the opposition forum, by justifying their position, "will further complicate the situation in Yemen. I expect them to attempt to get a timetable for President's Saleh stepping down, not just giving up his powers" to the vice-president.
Meanwhile, Al Sufi denied reports about efforts exerted by the US and European diplomats to bring the two sides in Yemen closer, and described them as "just a different interpretation of the Gulf initiative".
