Yemen's outgoing president Ali Abdullah Saleh has said he will leave for medical treatment in the US and return to continue leading the ruling party.
A source close to Saleh said he was set to leave within the next few hours for the US via neighbouring Oman.
"God willing, I will leave for treatment in the US and I will return to Sanaa as head of the General People's Congress party," Saleh was quoted by the state news agency Saba as telling a meeting with party officials.
Saleh, who was granted immunity from prosecution under a law passed by parliament yesterday, also asked Yemenis to forgive him for mistakes made during his rule.
Thousands of Yemenis protested today against Saleh's immunity and demanded he be put on trial for offences they say he committed during his rule.
Saleh was granted immunity as part of measures to persuade him to resign after a year of protests against him which have ground the impoverished Arabian Peninsula nation to a halt.
Demonstrators accuse security forces controlled by Saleh and his aides of killing hundreds. Many fear some of his followers will cling to power even once Saleh is gone.
