Turkey welcomes Yemeni president's power transfer deal

Turkey on Friday welcomed an agreement that allows Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to remain in office for three more months yet requires him to transfer power to his deputy. "We call on all sides in Yemen to fully comply with the provisions of this agreement and act in harmony and unity to secure the prosperity and peace among the nation as well as the welfare of the country," Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The landmark signing of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)- brokered deal, which came after a 10-month-old political deadlock in Yemen, took place in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday. Under the deal, Saleh handed power to his deputy Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi in return for immunity from prosecution. Turkey has "deeply appreciated invaluable contributions" made by the United Nations, the GCC and Saudi Arabia to the penning of the deal, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.