Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has vowed to return to his country from Saudi Arabia, where he is recovering from an assassination attempt.

In a televised address Tuesday from Riyadh to his supporters in Sana'a, Mr. Saleh said he will return to Yemen soon. He also accused his political opponents of stealing messages from the protesters who are calling for his removal from power.

The president expressed a willingness to transfer powers to a deputy if such a move would get opposition gunmen off the streets.

Mr. Saleh has been recovering in 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 came just days after thousands of Yemenis crowded streets across the country and renewed calls for his resignation.

Last week, Mr. Saleh told members of his ruling party he is 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 each time withdrew before a deal could be signed.