The New York Times is reporting the Obama administration is now privately pushing for a way for Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh to be eased out of office. Saleh has ruled Yemen for over three decades and has been a close partner to the United States in counterterrorism operations. The Times reports the key to Saleh’s departure would be arranging a transfer of power that would enable U.S. counterterrorism operations in Yemen to continue. Meanwhile, the Yemeni government is continuing to use violent force to crush the anti-government protest movement. At least 12 protesters were killed earlier today in the city of Taiz when security forces opened fire. In the port city of Hodeidah, armed men in civilian clothes opened fire on protesters, wounding at least 300.