Yemeni president sacks regional governors as protests build | Irish Sun

Yemeni president sacks regional governors as protests build

Irish Sun (IANS) Tuesday 1st March, 2011

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh Tuesday dismissed governors of five provinces, amid growing demands by protestors across the country for him to leave office.

Saleh issued decrees moving governors of the southern provinces of Aden, Lahej, Abyan and Hadhramout and the western province of Houdieda to government posts in the capital Sana'a, the official Saba news agency said.

The five governors are members of Saleh's ruling General People's Congress party. They were elected in the county's first direct election of provincial governors in 2008.

It was not immediately clear whether Saleh will appoint replacements.

Saba said Saleh chaired a meeting of the cabinet Tuesday and announced the postponement of forming a national unity government until an agreement on it with the opposition is reached.

On Monday, the main opposition party, Islah, rebuffed an invitation from Saleh to join a national unity government.

The creation of a national unity government is part of an eight-point plan proposed by Saleh as a response to protesters demanding his resignation.

Islah leads a group of opposition parties grouped under the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) alliance.

The JMP organised protests Tuesday that drew tens of thousands of supporters in the capital Sana'a and five other main cities.

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