Yemen president won't seek reelection

[News_Editor]

Yemen president won't seek reelection

2011-02-02 21:41:08 GMT+7 (ICT)

SANAA (BNO NEWS) -- Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh said on Wednesday he will not seek his reelection in 2013, after thousands of protesters demanded his resignation, the state-run Saba news agency reported.

"No to hereditary rule and no to life presidency," Saleh said after vowing not to inherit rule in Yemen to his son.

In a joint meeting of the Parliament and the Shura Council in Sanaa, which was boycotted by the opposition, President Saleh announced the "freezing of constitutional amendments" and called for a comprehensive national dialogue.

In addition, President Saleh, who has been in power since 1978, said the 27 April parliamentary elections would be postponed.

His announcement came after Yemen's opposition called on all its followers to participate in the countrywide protest expected to gather over one million protesters nationwide tomorrow.

Last Thursday, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Yemen's capital Sanaa to protest economic policies and urge the ouster of the regime. In recent days, Yemen has witnessed mass protests, inspired by the revolution that forced Tunisia's President out of office.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-02-02