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| | In the aftermath of the civil war, YSP leaders within Yemen reorganized the party and elected a new politburo in July 1994. However, the party remained disheartened and without its former influence. | | In the aftermath of the civil war, YSP leaders within Yemen reorganized the party and elected a new politburo in July 1994. However, the party remained disheartened and without its former influence. |
| − | [[File:Protesters Yemen 2011.jpg|thumb|300px|Yemenis rally against government, 2011.]]
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| | In 1994, amendments to the unity constitution eliminated the presidential council. President Ali Abdullah Saleh was elected by Parliament on October 1, 1994 to a 5-year term. In April 1997, Yemen held its second multiparty parliamentary elections. The country held its first direct presidential elections in September 1999, electing President Ali Abdullah Saleh to a 5-year term in what were generally considered free and fair elections. | | In 1994, amendments to the unity constitution eliminated the presidential council. President Ali Abdullah Saleh was elected by Parliament on October 1, 1994 to a 5-year term. In April 1997, Yemen held its second multiparty parliamentary elections. The country held its first direct presidential elections in September 1999, electing President Ali Abdullah Saleh to a 5-year term in what were generally considered free and fair elections. |
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| | Constitutional amendments adopted in the summer of 2000 extended the presidential term by 2 years, creating a seven-year presidential term. The constitution provides that henceforth the President will be elected by popular vote from at least two candidates selected by the legislature. The amendments also extended the parliamentary term of office to a 6-year term, with the next elections occurring in 2009. On February 20, 2001, a new constitutional amendment created a bicameral legislature consisting of a Shura Council (111 seats; members appointed by the president) and a House of Representatives (301 seats; members elected by popular vote). In April 2003, the third multiparty parliamentary elections were held with improvements in voter registration for both men and women and in a generally free and fair atmosphere. Two women were elected. In September 2006, citizens re-elected President Saleh to a second term in a generally open and competitive election, although there were multiple problems with the voting process and use of state resources on behalf of the ruling party. | | Constitutional amendments adopted in the summer of 2000 extended the presidential term by 2 years, creating a seven-year presidential term. The constitution provides that henceforth the President will be elected by popular vote from at least two candidates selected by the legislature. The amendments also extended the parliamentary term of office to a 6-year term, with the next elections occurring in 2009. On February 20, 2001, a new constitutional amendment created a bicameral legislature consisting of a Shura Council (111 seats; members appointed by the president) and a House of Representatives (301 seats; members elected by popular vote). In April 2003, the third multiparty parliamentary elections were held with improvements in voter registration for both men and women and in a generally free and fair atmosphere. Two women were elected. In September 2006, citizens re-elected President Saleh to a second term in a generally open and competitive election, although there were multiple problems with the voting process and use of state resources on behalf of the ruling party. |
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| | + | == Protesters 2011 == |
| | + | [[File:Protesters Yemen 2011.jpg|thumb|300px|Yemenis rally against government, 2011.]] |
| | + | Inspired by the Tunisia-style revolution, around 15,000 protesters took to streets in San'a and other major cities demanding the ouster of their president, who has been in power for more than 30 years. |
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| | <blockquote> | | <blockquote> |
| − | The protests that swept through the Middle East in early 2011 also spread to Yemen in early February, with both anti- and pro-government protesters taking to the streets. Thousands of students rallied in the capital Sana and the city of Taiz and called for the resignation of President Saleh, while another bloc of protesters in Aden, a southern city, used demonstrations to underscore their long-sought quest for independence from the north. The students formed an informal alliance, called the Joint Meeting Parties, with Islamists and other opposition groups. [http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108153.html?pageno=6#ixzz1L0VbHHD8] | + | The protests that swept through the Middle East in early 2011 also spread to Yemen in early February, with both anti- and pro-government protesters taking to the streets. Thousands of students rallied in the capital San'a and the city of Taiz and called for the resignation of President Saleh, while another bloc of protesters in Aden, a southern city, used demonstrations to underscore their long-sought quest for independence from the north. The students formed an informal alliance, called the Joint Meeting Parties, with Islamists and other opposition groups. [http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108153.html?pageno=6#ixzz1L0VbHHD8] |
| | </blockquote> | | </blockquote> |
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| | + | Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh called on Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on Thursday to prevent Doha-based Al-Jazeera Satellite TV from heating up conflicts in Yemen, official Saba news agency reported. In a phone conversation, Saleh asked Qatari Emir to help stop Al-Jazeera from inciting Yemeni people for violence by twisting fact and exaggerating events. "The channel must stop incitement, exaggeration and distorting the facts, furthermore, it should stop encouraging people to appeal to unrest, violence and sabotage in the Arab countries," Saleh told Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. "What the channel is doing serves the Zionist entity and terrorist groups, such as [[Al-Qaida]] as well as the enemies of the Arab who seek to ignite dissent among people that threatens the next generations," Saleh said. [http://business-video.tmcnet.com/news/2011/01/27/5272722.htm] |
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