Yemen's Saleh to sign exit plan Wednesday: UN envoy

SANAA: Yemen's veteran President Ali Abdullah Saleh is to sign in Riyadh on Wednesday a Gulf plan under which he will finally cede power, the UN envoy to the restive country said.

"The signing ceremony will take place today in Riyadh," Jamal Benomar told AFP by telephone, confirming that the plan, signed by the opposition in April, will now be signed by the veteran leader himself after months of stalling.

Both parties will also sign a UN-crafted roadmap which sets a mechanism for implementing the Gulf plan, under which Saleh will hand power to his deputy in return for immunity from prosecution.