Yemen ruling party calls for new government

Anti-government protesters shout slogans during a rally to demand the ouster of Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh, outside Sana'a University March 27,

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171923.html

Yemen's ruling party has recommended forming a new government tasked with drafting a new constitution based on a parliamentary system.

The recommendation was made by the Central Committee of the People's Congress on Sunday, as protests against President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 32-year autocratic rule intensify, Reuters reported.

Anti-regime protests escalated furiously on Sunday, a day after Saleh made a controversial televised speech, saying his government is firm despite demonstrations.

The president also set a condition for his immediate step-down, saying his respect and prestige should be maintained, but warned the country is like a “time bomb” that could slide into civil war unless there is dialogue.

The speech spawned even more outrage when protesters, who were holding a sit-in, threw shoes at a public television screen, demanding Saleh's immediate resignation.

However, Saleh said in a meeting attended by the members of the ruling party on Sunday that he “derives his strength from the people” and warned the opposition groups that he would not make any further concessions from now on, Yemen News Agency reported.

The president had vowed to quit power at the end of the year after holding presidential elections and leading the country to a “safe shore,” but he has once again reiterated he will stay in office until the end of his current term in 2013, reports said.

More than 80 people have been killed in the government crackdown since protests against Saleh's three-decade rule started in mid-February.