Yemen's leader hints at stepping down

SAN'A, Yemen -- President Ali Abdullah Saleh has made vague comments that he is willing to leave power in his first major speech since returning to Yemen, but he gives no concrete plan for the future of the country.

It was not the first time Saleh has expressed a willingness to step down amid eight months of mass protests demanding his ouster. Still, he has repeatedly refused to resign immediately and rejected a U.S.-backed deal for him to hand over his authority.

His new declaration Saturday, aired on state TV, gave little clue to his intentions. While railing against the opposition, Saleh says he "will reject power in the coming days. I will give it up. But there are men who are true to their pledges who will take power, whether military or civilian." -- AP