Gulf | Yemen
Yemeni groups call for release of political prisoners
Releasing political prisoners and ensuring the neutrality of State institutions are the only ways out of the current political crisis gripping Yemen, an opposition alliance said.
- By Nasser Arrabyee, Correspondent
- Published: 23:47 September 3, 2008
Sana'a: Releasing political prisoners and ensuring the neutrality of State institutions are the only ways out of the current political crisis gripping Yemen, an opposition alliance said.
In a letter addressed to President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Tuesday the opposition said they would not allow themselves to be excluded from politics.
Their letter came in response to a previous letter in which President Saleh accused them of attempting to derail coming parliamentary elections.
Last week President Saleh's party used its overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives to form a new panel to organise elections.
"Electoral laws should not be imposed by the ruling majority, but should ... respect the rights of the majority and minority alike," said the letter that was signed by the chairman of the supreme council of the opposition alliance, Abdul Wahab Al Ansi, who is Secretary General of the Islah Party.
The opposition alliance said the only solution will be to release detainees and to create an atmosphere conducive to free and fair elections. The letter referred mainly to detainees who were arrested in southern provinces over the last few months in violent protests calling for reforms or secession.
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