On Friday the UN security council unanimously approved a resolution on the situation in Yemen – its first such resolution since the uprising began.

As expected, the resolution (full text here) calls on President Saleh to accept the Gulf Cooperation Council's wretched "transition plan" and begin a handover of power. The GCC plan includes a proposal to grant Saleh immunity from prosecution, though the UN resolution says that "all those responsible for violence, human rights violations and abuses should be held accountable".

There is no mention in the resolution of sanctions or other penalties if Saleh fails to comply, though it does call on the UN secretary-general "to report on implementation of this resolution" within 30 days and every 60 days thereafter.

Apart from that, there's not much to say about it. It's a small step, and at this stage of the game it will take more than a toothless UN resolution to shift Saleh.

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 22 October 2011