France hails signing of GCC initiative

France welcomed on Wednesday the signing by President Ali Abdullah Saleh of GCC initiative, describing it as a step toward ending violence and launching democratic transition.The French Foreign Ministry, expressed in a statement, wishes that such vital step could bring an end to violence in Yemen and bring transformation to democracy there.In the statement, France also called on all parties involved to live up to expectations and waste no time in implementing the signed agreement.France also congratulated the GCC leaders on their efforts to put an end to violence in Yemen.The GCC accord, which is backed by the United States and the European Union, allows Saleh to retain his title as Yemen's president for 90 days, until elections are held, according to a Western diplomat in Yemen.