Opposition parties meet EC officer

SANA'A, Sep. 03 (Saba)- The leadership of the Joint Meeting Parties
(JMP) has met with the chargé d'affaires of the European Commission
Office in Sana'a.

During the meeting, the JMP leadership praised the EC role in
supporting and developing Yemen's democratic experience, confirming
the JMP's adherence to recommendations of the EU's observation
mission's report regarding the last elections in 2006.

They also discussed the latest developments in the political field
the country witnesses.

The EC officer affirmed the continuing adherence to the EU
recommendations approved by the ruling General People Congress party
(GPC) and the main opposition parties in Yemen.

The EC officer confirmed the importance of applying the
recommendations in order to secure holding free and fair elections
in Yemen.

Meanwhile, the GPC urged the Yemeni people to adopt tolerance and
brotherhood, give up extremism and hatred, and prioritizing national
interests.

The GPC called on all citizens, political parties and civil
organizations to embody the spirit of unity and discard separation
as well as to deepen principles of the national unity.

For the upcoming elections, the main opposition parties have said it
may boycott "the upcoming parliamentary elections if the ruling
party insisted on its own prospects".

The JMP affirmed that the current Supreme Commission for Elections
and Referendum is illegal, pointing out it would hold an all-out
national and general conference aiming to rescue the state from the
dark tunnel resulted in by the authorities and the ruling party.

The parliament recently rejected a bill of amendments to the
election law, underscoring escalating tension between the ruling
party and the opposition.