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

Mr. Saleh said in a televised speech Sunday he is committed to implementing a power transfer initiative drawn up by the Gulf Cooperation Council, but made no pledge to step down. The long-stalled plan calls for President Saleh to hand over power to a deputy.

The appearance was his first since he returned to the capital, Sana'a, on Friday after a three-month stay in neighboring Saudi Arabia while recuperating from a June assassination attempt.

Mr. Saleh said the elections must include presidential, parliamentary and local balloting. He also criticized his opponents for encouraging chaos, saying the country's constitution allows peaceful protests, but not robbery and destruction of state property.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah said the Gulf initiative is the only way to resolve the crisis, and he urged all parties in Yemen to show restraint in order to prevent more violence and killings.

Mr. Saleh's speech came just hours after Yemeni troops opened fire on a large group of anti-government protesters in Sana'a, wounding 18 people.

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-government protests in the capital. Demonstrators prayed for protesters killed during the past week, one of the bloodiest since protests began in January.

In other violence Sunday, at least two people, including a soldier, were killed in the southern city of Taiz, and troops killed two people outside of Sana'a.