SANAA, Yemen - Yemen's cabinet approved a law granting President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and anyone who has worked under him, immunity from prosecution for any crimes committed during his 33-year rule.

Sunday's decision came as a surprise to many in Yemen, who believed that a power transfer deal he signed in November granted him and his family immunity from prosecution for the killings of protesters, but would not extend to cover his 33-year rule and anyone who worked in government.

The cabinet approved the law despite nationwide daily protests demanding the longtime leader be put on trial for the killing of hundreds of people in raids on protest camps, the use of snipers and armed attacks on marches during the country's 11-month popular uprising.

The wording of the law "provides President Ali Abdullah Saleh and those who worked with him, including in civilian, military and security institutions during the period of his presidency, legal and judicial immunity".

Parliament refer

"The national unity cabinet of Prime Minister Mohamed Basindwa approved a proposed immunity law for President Saleh in an extraordinary meeting and referred it to the parliament for voting," an official told Xinhua speaking on the condition of anonymity.

"The parliament is due to pass the law unanimously later to grant Saleh immunity from prosecution before the president resigns in accordance to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) initiative and the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2014," he said.

Saleh's immunity law was stipulated by the UN-backed GCC initiative that was signed by the president and the opposition coalition in Saudi Arabia on Nov 23. Both sides agreed to nominate Yemeni Vice-President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi as the consensual candidate for the early presidential elections.

Angry reaction

Yemenis angry at the offer of legal immunity to Saleh over the killing of demonstrators have been taking to the streets, calling for him to be put on trial while the United Nations has said the deal would violate international law.

AP-Xinhua-Reuters