Officials say Yemen president will not return home

[September 16, 2011]  SANAA Yemen (AP) -- Officials in Saudi Arabia and Yemen say that President Ali Abdullah Saleh will not return to Sanaa and will, instead, remain in Riyadh, where he has been since June recuperating from serious wounds after an attack on his compound in June.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because they were not authorized to release the information.

On Thursday, the U.S. State Department said in a statement that it believes Saleh could sign a Gulf-sponsored proposal to transfer power to his vice president within a week.

Saleh has drawn back several times from signing the power transfer accord proposed by Yemen's powerful neighbors.

Al-Qaida linked militants have taken advantage of months of turmoil surrounding huge protests demanding Saleh's resignation.

[Associated Press; By AHMED AL-HAJ]

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