SANAA, Yemen ? President Ali Abdullah Saleh's agreement to step down failed to end Yemen's violence Thursday as security forces killed five protesters demanding that the ousted leader be put on trial for past crimes ranging from corruption to bloodshed during the current uprising.
Saleh signed the U.S.-backed power-transfer deal, brokered by neighboring countries, Wednesday in the Saudi capital Riyadh. It officially transfers power to his vice president, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, in exchange for immunity from prosecution.
But many doubt that the deal marks the end of political life for Saleh, who has proved to be a wily politician and suggested in remarks after the signing ceremony that he could play a future political role in the country, along with his ruling party. He had agreed to sign the deal three times before, only to back away at the last minute.
The tens of thousands of protesters in Yemen, who have distanced themselves from the formal opposition movement, rejected the immunity clause, saying Saleh should face justice for allegations of corruption by the regime as well as the recent bloodshed as his forces try to put down the uprising against his 33-year rule.
Demonstrators camped out in the capital of Sanaa chanted "No immunity for the killer" and vowed to continue their protests.
Security forces and government supporters opened fire on that camp Thursday, killing five protesters with live ammunition, said Gameela Abdullah, a medic at the local field hospital.
The deal ? which officially transferred power to his vice president and calls for early presidential elections within 90 days ? also could open the way to what will likely be a messy power struggle, although a national unity government is supposed to oversee a two-year transitional period.
Among those possibly vying for power are Saleh's son and nephew, who command the country's best-equipped military units; powerful tribal leaders; and the commander of a renegade battalion.
Saleh had stubbornly clung to power despite nearly 10 months of huge street protests in which hundreds of people were killed by his security forces. At one point, Saleh's palace mosque was bombed and he was treated in Saudi Arabia for severe burns.
"The signature is not what is important," Saleh said after signing the agreement. "What is important is good intentions and dedication to serious, loyal work at true participation to rebuild what has been destroyed by the crisis during the last 10 months."
International leaders who had long pushed for the deal applauded Saleh's signature, many hoping it would help end a security breakdown that has allowed Yemen's active al-Qaida branch to step up operations in the country's weakly governed provinces.
President Barack Obama welcomed the decision, saying the U.S. would stand by the Yemeni people "as they embark on this historic transition."
King Abdullah also praised Saleh, telling Yemenis the plan would "open a new page in your history" and lead to greater freedom and prosperity.
Italy's foreign minister, Giulio Terzi, lauded the agreement and called for an end to violence.
"Now it is necessary that the accord is fully implemented and that all violence cease," he said.
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Al-Haj reported from Cairo.
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