Yemenis protest newly formed unity government

[News_Editor]

Yemenis protest newly formed unity government

2011-12-10 07:07:46 GMT+7 (ICT)

SANAA (BNO NEWS) -- Hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters on Thursday took to the streets of Yemen to reject the newly formed government, the Yemen Post reported on Friday.

Protesters called for a complete fall of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's regime after members of the ruling party were appointed to the new unity government. Youth activists rejected the new cabinet and called it a 'puppet government' that is working to save Saleh from being held responsible for the alleged crimes committed against unarmed protesters, the news report said.

Protests took place in seventeen provinces nationwide on Thursday. The largest protest was reported in the capital Sana'a, only hours after several explosions were heard in the northern part of the capital.

The new government was announced on Wednesday and it will be formally sworn in on Saturday. The United Nations envoy to Yemen, Jamal Bin Omar, who arrived in Sana'a on Thursday to hold talks with all sides in Yemen over political progress, praised the recent political success in the country, the official news agency SABA reported.

"I wish success to the newly formed national unity government," the UN envoy said, as quoted by SABA. "It is important that the new government plays a role in restoring security and stability and rebuilding the economy of Yemen".

Meanwhile, some clashes continue between anti-government and pro-Saleh forces. The United Nations has warned that the humanitarian situation in Yemen is likely to continue to deteriorate over the next year despite the recent political agreement brokered by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to restore peace and stability.

The timetable set out in the agreement includes the formation of a government of national consensus, presidential elections within 90 days, a national dialogue, a constitutional review and a program of reforms that starts to tackle the profound humanitarian, economic and security challenges that Yemen faces.

Also under the accord, President Saleh agreed to hand over his powers to Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour al-Hadi who is expected to take over as Acting President by December 23. But youth protesters have condemned the GCC agreement since it gives Saleh immunity from prosecution. The uprising against President Saleh has claimed at least 1,500 lives since February.

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