Yemen power transfer due on Friday

Yemen's president Abdullah Ali Saleh is due to transfer power to his vice president on Friday and then leave the country for medical treatment.

The UN envoy to Yemen says he expects President Abdullah Ali Saleh to honour a deal by officially transferring power to his vice president on Friday and then leave the country for medical treatment.

Saleh signed the deal last month after long delays.

Some critics fear he won't relinquish the title of president even though his powers already have been transferred to Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

UN envoy Jamal Benomar said Saleh needs treatment for injuries from a June assassination attempt.

After briefing the Security Council on Wednesday, he said the situation in Yemen remains "highly fragile" and the national unity government led by Hadi faces huge challenges in re-establishing control over significant parts of the country, including some al-Qaeda run areas.