Saleh gets immunity

• Yemen's Parliament approved immunity to free President Ali Abdullah Saleh from prosecution, following through on a requirement in a deal for him to give up power.
• The agreement, though internationally endorsed and struck between Mr. Saleh and opposition leaders in November, remained controversial with critics who say he should be punished for acts during his 33 years as President, including what anti-government protesters and Human Rights Watch say was the killing of hundreds of demonstrators by his security forces.
• Mr. Saleh had already handed over some authority to Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, whom, according to Saba, the Parliament nominated on Saturday as the consensus candidate for an early presidential election, scheduled for Feb. 21. The move had been expected, and thus far, Mr. Hadi was the only official candidate. Yemeni officials recently expressed concern that elections could be postponed because of the chaotic state of the country.