Qatar quits effort to mediate end to Yemen crisis

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SANAA, May 13 (AP): Qatar has pulled out of an effort to mediate an end to Yemen's political crisis, blaming the country's embattled president Friday for the impasse and potentially leaving his regime even more isolated among his neighbours. Qatar was among six Gulf nations pushing a deal for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down after 32 years in power in exchange for immunity from prosecution. Opposition leaders had grudgingly accepted the accord, but Saleh balked at signing even as protests swelled in defiance of a deadly crackdown by authorities. Three months of massive street protests and clashes have left about 150 people dead. Anti-government forces have called for major marches on Friday. The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council - which includes Yemen's powerful neighbor Saudi Arabia - said Thursday it would try to keep the peace pact alive.