Sanaa: Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh said on Saturday he was prepared to step down if allowed a dignified departure, but the opposition accused him of manoeuvring to hold on to power.
Earlier Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi told Reuters a deal to transfer power peacefully could emerge shortly based on an offer by Saleh to quit by the end of the year. But a deal did not appear imminent since government opponents had hardened their demands.
"I could leave power ... even in a few hours, on condition of maintaining dignity and prestige," Saleh told Al Arabiya TV, adding that he would remain in charge of the ruling party even if stood down.
"I have to take the country to safe shores ... I'm holding on to power in order to hand it over peaceably ... I'm not looking for a home in Jeddah or Paris."
Yemen, a poor and tribally divided country, that has become a base for al Qaeda next to the world's top oil producer Saudi Arabia, has been in upheaval since January when the example of the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions set off popular demonstrations to end Saleh's 32-year rule.
Talks have been under way on two tracks to hash out the details of a deal on a peaceful transition of power.
But the leader of Yemen's opposition coalition said the sides still had significant differences, and that while there were some contacts he did not consider them as negotiations.
"We still have a very big gap," said Yassin Noman, the rotating head of Yemen's opposition coalition. "I think he (Saleh) is manoeuvring."
Yemeni political sources said some issues that could hold up a deal were whether the opposition would give guarantees not to pursue Saleh and his family legally. Saleh opponents also want to be sure his close relatives leave positions of power.
"I hope it (agreement) will be today, before tomorrow," Qirbi told Reuters in an interview, adding that the time frame of a transfer of power could be negotiated.
Saleh, who oversaw the 1990 unification of north and south Yemen and emerged victorious from a civil war four years later, told tribes in Sanaa on Saturday that he would "work to avoid bloodshed using all possible means".
"President Saleh is willing to look at all possibilities, as long as there are really serious commitments by the JMP (opposition) to come and initiate a serious dialogue between them and the ruling party," Qirbi said.
But an opposition leader cast doubt on prospects for a swift accord and a Sanaa diplomat cautioned it was too soon to discuss an outcome, saying it could "go either way".
Qirbi said discussions were focusing on the time frame of a transition, among other issues. "I think the time period is something that can be negotiated. It shouldn't be really an obstacle to reach an agreement".
"I think things are very close if the real intention is really to reach an agreement. But if there are parties who want to obstruct it then of course one cannot predict."
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