Yemen nearly falls to rebels, Syria protests spread

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Friday agreed to cede power to the public, becoming the third Arab head of state to be forced out of power. Saleh, however, said he would hand over power only to "safe hands."

Protests demanding the resignation of Saleh, however, continued in the southern city of Karish, even as the mass protests that began in Northern Africa have now engulfed Syria, Jordan and several countries in the Gulf.

In Yemen, reports said, talks were under way for a peaceful transition of power while the Syrian government stood defiant so far even as protests challenging the rule of President Bashar al-Assad spread across the country.

The Yemani president's position was weakened by the continuing bloodshed that caused him lose support of some of his top aides, including top general Ali Mohsen, diplomats and tribal leaders.

Mohsen is reported to have discussed a deal with Saleh under which both men and their families would leave Yemen, while political sources said broader talks were underway on a political transition.

The Assad government in Syria had, on Thursday, promised to look at giving greater freedom to Syrians, but there was no sign of protests ending anytime soon.