Sana:Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has said he will not seek to extend his presidency when his current term expires in 2013.
Mr Saleh, who has been in power for three decades, also pledged that he would not pass on power to his son.
He spoke to parliament ahead of a rally in the capital on Thursday which, echoing protests in Tunisia and Egypt, has been dubbed a “day of rage”.
Mr Saleh came to power as president of North Yemen in 1978.
When the country was united with South Yemen in 1990 he became president of the new republic.
Speaking during an emergency session of the country’s parliament and the consultative council on Wednesday, Mr Saleh laid out his plans to move aside.
“No extension, no inheritance, no resetting the clock,” he said.
“I present these concessions in the interests of the country. The interests of the country come before our personal interests.”
He also called on the opposition to “freeze all planned protests, rallies and sit-ins”.
He spoke ahead of the planned protests, organised by civil society groups and opposition leaders in a country which suffers from high population growth, 40% unemployment, rising food prices and acute levels of malnutrition.
Some 40% of the population lives on less than $2 (£1.25) a day and parts of the country have become a haven for al-Qaeda militants.
Tens of thousands of people gathered in January during days of protests urging Mr Saleh to step down.
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