Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh says he is committed to a peaceful transfer of power through presidential elections.

In his first televised speech since his unexpected return to the country, Mr. Saleh also said Sunday he is committed to implementing a power transfer initiative drawn up by the Gulf Cooperation Council. The long-stalled plan calls for President Saleh to hand over power to a deputy.

Mr. Saleh returned to the capital, Sana'a, Friday after a three-month stay in neighboring Saudi Arabia while recuperating from a June assassination attempt.

His speech came just hours after Yemeni troops opened fire on a large group of anti-government protesters in Sana'a, wounding at least 17 people with reports of at least one protester killed.

Witnesses say the protesters were marching near the army's headquarters when troops opened fire.

Hundreds of other protesters demonstrated in Sana'a's Change Square, which has served as a center of anti-regime protests in the capital. Demonstrators prayed for protesters killed during the past week, one of the bloodiest since protests began in January.

On Saturday, clashes in Sana'a between forces loyal to the president and student protesters backed by dissident military units left at least 40 people dead. Government forces also attacked a student protest camp, causing many casualties.