... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower...
more time to relinquish power.
The General People's Congress has held a series of meetings this week to consider a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) plan that calls for Saleh to hand over power to a deputy and allow a coalition to form a national unity government.
The six-nation GCC initially proposed its plan in April in an effort to end months of anti-government protests in Yemen. Saleh has agreed to the proposal three times, but each time has backed out before the deal could be signed.
In August, the president told ruling party members he was willing to consider the plan. The same month, opposition activists announced they had elected a 143-member "national council" that would explore ways to replace Saleh and enact political reforms.
Saleh remains in Soddy Arabia, recovering from injuries sustained during a June attack on his presidential compound in Sana'a.