Yemen's outgoing leader has been cleared to come to the U.S. for medical treatment, White House officials said.

Ali Abdullah Saleh has been cleared to be in the U.S. for a limited time. He will travel to New York this week and probably stay in the country until no later than the end of February.

Saleh was badly burned and wounded during a June rocket attack on his compound in Yemen and has been seeking better medical attention.

In a farewell speech last November, Saleh told his people that it was time for him to hand over power. He asked them to forgive the mistakes he made during his 33-year reign.

Protesters had been calling for Saleh to step down for almost a year. He's one of several Middle East leaders facing opposition in the so-called 'Arab Spring' uprisings.

Yemen's presidential elections are scheduled for Feb. 21. Yemeni Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi is expected to be selected as the new leader since he is the only candidate.

The Yemeni embassy in Washington said Saleh planned to return home in February to attend the swearing-in ceremony for the country's newly elected president.