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    January 21, 2012

Yemen Approves Immunity for Saleh

   VOA News
   Members of Yemen's Parliament raise their hands to vote in favor of a
   law granting immunity to outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh over the
   killing of protesters, in Sana'a, January 21, 2012.
   Photo: Reuters
   Members of Yemen's Parliament raise their hands to vote in favor of a
   law granting immunity to outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh over the
   killing of protesters, in Sana'a, January 21, 2012.

   Yemen's parliament has formally approved a law giving President Ali
   Abdullah Saleh immunity from prosecution, in return for leaving the
   office he has held since 1978.
   The law, brokered by neighboring Gulf nations, grants Mr. Saleh
   complete immunity from legal and judicial prosecution for any alleged
   crimes committed during his 33-year rule. It is part of a deal signed
   in November aimed at ending months of political turmoil.
   The immunity deal has sparked an outcry by pro-democracy activists.
   They are calling for the president to stand trial for a violent
   crackdown on anti-government protests in which hundreds of people died.
   The new law also grants a controversial partial immunity to the
   president's political aides, although last-minute amendments reduced
   the scope of that amnesty.
   Under the Gulf deal, Mr. Saleh has handed authority to Vice President
   Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Hadi is the consensus candidate of major
   parties in a presidential election scheduled for February.