Embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh urged opposition yesterday to end protests demanding his departure, saying he was "willing" to discuss a peaceful transition of power.

Saleh called on the Common Forum opposition coalition to "end the crisis through calling off protests and removing roadblocks", in a meeting with representatives from the province of Taez.

"We are ready to discuss transferring power, but in peaceful and constitutional framework," he added to chants of "No concessions after today!"

His ruling party also said it had not received a proposed transition plan from opposition parties that envisages Saleh handing power to a vice president while steps are taken toward a national unity government and new

elections.

"We haven't got it yet," an official said.

Saleh has received sustenance from the United States, which has talked openly of its concern over who might succeed a man they view as an ally who helped them contain al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, a Yemen-based wing of the militant group.

Meanwhile, two Yemenis died and hundreds were hurt yesterday when police used live rounds, tear gas and batons to try to break up protests.

The two dead were among around 10 people hit by bullets in the violence in Taiz, south of the capital, where doctors said dozens were wounded, and that they were treating hundreds suffering tear gas inhalation.

"Armored vehicles and tanks are surrounding us. They have spent three hours firing tear gas and bullets (in the

air) in an effort to break up the protest," said activist Bushra al-Maqtari.

Weeks of protests inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia have brought Saleh's rule to the verge of collapse, but Saleh, a perennial survivor, has resisted the calls to jump.

At least 250 others were injured, some with live rounds, when police used tear gas and gunfire to disperse the protesters who were heading to the governorate headquarters.

Police continued to fire as security forces pushed back the demonstrators to a square where they have been holding a sit-in as part of nationwide protests demanding that Saleh end more than three decades in power, the witnesses added.

The opposition, which has led the more than two month old protests, called on the president on Saturday to hand over power to his deputy.