Yemen's parliament has formally approved a law giving President Ali Abdullah Saleh immunity from prosecution, in return for leaving the office he has held since 1978.

The law, brokered by neighboring Gulf nations, grants Mr. Saleh complete immunity from legal and judicial prosecution for any alleged crimes committed during his 33-year rule. It is part of a deal signed in November aimed at ending months of political turmoil.

The immunity deal has sparked an outcry by pro-democracy activists. They are calling for the president to stand trial for a violent crackdown on anti-government protests in which hundreds of people died.

The new law also grants a controversial partial immunity to the president's political aides, although last-minute amendments reduced the scope of that amnesty.

Under the Gulf deal, Mr. Saleh has handed authority to Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Hadi is the consensus candidate of major parties in a presidential election scheduled for February.