Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh welcomed on Monday a resolution by the United Nations Security Council urging him to sign a Gulf-brokered power transfer deal, state media reported, DPA reported.
Saleh said he was ready to talk to the opposition coalition Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) on implementing the Gulf initiative, the official news agency SABA said.
The dialogue aims to come up with a final agreement on the initiative as soon as possible, which should lead to early presidential elections agreed on by all parties, the agency added.
The UN Security Council late Friday voted unanimously in calling on Saleh to sign and implement an agreement proposed by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for "an inclusive, orderly, and Yemeni-led process of political transition."
Saleh has previously refused to sign the deal three times.
The JMP, meanwhile, has rejected any proposals short of actually signing the deal, which commits Saleh to transfer power to his deputy within 30 days of signing it. Presidential elections would then take place after 60 days.
The deal also guarantees Saleh immunity from legal prosecution and allows him to remain head of the ruling party.
Millions of Yemenis have taken to the streets since February, demanding an end to Saleh's 33-year rule. At least 1,480 people were killed between February and September, according to government figures.