Yemen's president heads to U.S. for treatment From Mohammed Jamjoom and Hakim Almasmari, CNN January 23, 2012 -- Updated 1220 GMT (2020 HKT) Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh pictured in December. Yemeni government sources say President Ali Abdullah Saleh left Oman Monday He is scheduled to return to Yemen in February, the embassy says The State Department says Saleh can come to the U.S. for medical treatment The embattled leader was injured in a June bomb attack on his presidential palace Sanaa, Yemen (CNN) -- Yemen's embattled president was on his way Monday to the United States for medical treatment, officials said. President Ali Abdullah Saleh left Yemen on Sunday and stopped in Oman before continuing Monday on a trip to the United States. The purpose of Saleh's U.S. trip is a "private medical visit," the Yemeni Embassy in Washington said in a statement Sunday. "The president will travel back to Yemen in February to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected president," the statement said. At least six family members were with Saleh, two senior Yemeni government officials said. His request to travel to the United States has been approved, the U.S. State Department said Sunday. "As we have indicated, the sole purpose of this travel is for medical treatment and we expect that he will stay for a limited time that corresponds to the duration of this treatment," the department said in a statement. Saleh's departure from Yemen came a day after Yemen's parliament approved a controversial law giving the president complete immunity from prosecution. Protesters have demonstrated for months in Yemen, calling for Saleh to step down. Although the deal was hailed by opposition parties in Yemen, youth protesters and international rights groups called the immunity a violation of international law. Saleh apologized to his people and called for protesters to stop demonstrations in a speech broadcast on Yemeni state television before his departure Sunday. Young men, go back to your homes, go to your families. I feel sorry for you, I call on you to go back to your homes and start a new page with the new leadership," he said. But word that Saleh was leaving the country did not quell protesters' criticisms there. "If Saleh thinks that because he left the country we will head back home, then he is wrong," said Saba al-Shibami, a youth activist in Sanaa who was one of thousands protesting Sunday. We left our homes demanding complete change and will not go back until we reach our goal. The Yemeni revolution is for real. Journalist Hakim Almasmari reported from Sanaa. CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom reported from Abu Dhabi.