(CNN) -- After seeing his three-decade rule come to an end, Yemen's former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, will leave the country for Ethiopia this week, ruling party officials said Monday. Saleh returned to Yemen just days ago. However, he was under increased pressure to leave, as Yemenis worry his presence will undermine efforts of the new president, Abdurabu Mansur Hadi. Saleh and Hadi appeared at the presidential palace Monday for a former handover of power ceremony amid cautious optimism and ongoing threats of violence in the country. Hadi, who served as Saleh's vice president, was elected to the post last week and was sworn in Saturday in the capital, Sanaa.
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Ali Abdullah Saleh is headed to Ethiopia, officials say
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Abdurabu Mansur Hadi is Yemen's new president
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Saleh led the country for 33 years
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Obama: Yemen could "serve as a model for how peaceful transitions can occur"
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Acknowledging the numerous challenges faced by @placeholder, Hadi added, "We are in front of a difficult and complex time and the Yemeni people, who in millions participated in the early elections, gave a clear message for standing with security and stability in order for better change."
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At the end of the ceremony, Saleh handed a Yemeni flag to @placeholder.
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@placeholder, who led Yemen for 33 years, was wounded in a June assassination attempt at his presidential palace during battles between government troops and tribal fighters.