Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has vowed to return to his country soon.

He made the comments in a speech from Saudi Arabia Tuesday, but did not specify a date for returning. He also expressed a willingness to transfer powers to a deputy if the move would get opposition gunmen off the streets.

Mr. Saleh has been recovering in neighboring Saudi Arabia from wounds sustained in a June rocket attack on his presidential compound as opposition demonstrators moved to oust him from power.

His speech comes just days after thousands of Yemenis crowded streets across the country and renewed calls for his resignation. Some demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans on Friday, while a group of the president's loyalists rallied in the capital, Sana'a.

Mr. Saleh also said Tuesday that he was close to a decision to leaving office in 2006. He said the Yemeni people wanted him to stay.

Last week, Mr. Saleh told members of his ruling party he was willing to consider a plan from the Gulf Cooperation Council that calls for him to turn over power to his vice president.

The GCC first proposed the plan in April. Mr. Saleh agreed to the plan three times but in each case withdrew before a deal could be signed.