Yemen interim cabinet to be announced today, al-Janadi

By Mohammed al-Kibsi The spokes person of the Yemeni government Abdu Al-Janadi expected to announce the new interim government on Sunday if no negative development happened. The General People’s Congress (GPC) chose ministries of the Defense, Oil and Minerals and the Foreign Affairs in the new government headed by Mohammed Basendwah of the opposition, stated unconfirmed sources. The sources mention that the new formation of the government has divided the Ministries between the ruling party, the GPC and the opposition formed of the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP). The agreement on the new government lasted three days in discussions which resulted in two lists of Ministries which the GPC choosing the list that contains the following ministries; Ministry of Defense, Oil and Minerals, Foreign Affairs, Telecommunication, Higher Education, Public Works and Roads, Expatriate, Endowments and Religious Affairs, Tourism, Agriculture and Irrigation, Public Health, Social Affairs and Labor, Fisheries, Youth and Sport, Civil Services and and two state ministries. On the other hand, the JMP has taken over the Ministries of Interior, Finance, Information, Education, Justice, Legal Affairs, Technical and Vocational Training, Planning and International Cooperation, Industry and Commerce, Transportation, Culture, Human Rights, House of Representatives and Shoura Council, Water, Electricity and two State ministries. The distribution of Ministries has been done on the base of 17 ministries for each side. Observers believes that the Ministry of Defense was an essential ministry for the GPC, which made the opposition puts sensitive lists knowing that the GPC will go for the Ministry of Defense. The two lists were put by the JMP and were presented to the GPC in a meeting yesterday at the house of the Vice President, and gave the GPC the chance of choosing which list it would handle in the new government headed by Basendwah. Earlier last week, Yemen’s Vice-President Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi named Mohammed Basendwa, as Yemen’s new interim Prime Minister on Sunday. A decree carried by state media said Mr. Basendwa, a senior opposition leader, had been charged with forming a national reconciliation government ahead of early presidential election scheduled for February 21st, 2012. On November 23rd President Ali Abdullah Saleh signed a GCC brokered power-transfer deal aimed at ending months of violence and political stalemate. Under the agreement Saleh vested Hadi with his presidential powers, allowing him to nominate the country’s new PM and call for early presidential elections. An immediate ceasefire was imposed in Taiz city starting from sunset of Sunday after vice president Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi had ordered government and opposition forces to implement an immediate truce. Over 30 people were killed in Taiz including civilians, government soldiers and fighters affiliated to the defected army and Islamic militias during the past few days. However the spokesperson of the Yemen government, deputy minister of information Abdu Al-Janadi said in his press conference today that the ceasefire was a result of the heavy stick of the US ambassador and ambassadors of the permanent members of the UNSC. Al-Janadi expected to announce the new interim government on Sunday if no negative development might happen. Hadi also hailed all the international efforts exerted to put an end to the Yemeni political crisis. During his meeting with Director of the UN Electoral Assistance Division Craig Jenness, Hadi praised the international community's cooperation that helped Yemen to avoid a serious situation, asserting the significance of the political and democratic solutions to maintain the security and stability at the local, regional and international levels. The Vice President underlined the importance of Yemen's stability for the world and region's security, saying that the international interests were required to secure over 3.5 million barrels of oil pass daily through the Gulf of Aden and Bab el Mandeb to Europe, America and various countries. He also briefed the UN official on the latest developments in the local arena after signing the GCC brokered deal and its executive mechanism. He also tackled the arrangements for the early presidential election on February 21 as well as the aid Yemen needs for the transitional phase. The UN official valued highly the role played by the vice president, affirming the UN keenness to provide the necessary support and mobilize the resources required to finance the early presidential elections. The lists of the overall 34 ministry were divided so that each list will include 5 Sovereign Ministries in each list. In the same context, Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi in an interview with London based al-Hyat daily said that Yemen has entered a new phase after the signing of the Gulf-brokered initiative and its implementation mechanism in the Saudi capital last week. He added that history is witness that President Ali Abdullah Saleh has many supporters in the country that wish he would stay in power as president. “Ali Abdullah Saleh’s regime has not left Yemen and Saleh will not leave Yemen. He will remain a Yemeni citizen; he has the right to remain and play a political role through the General People’s Congress,” said al-Qirbi Regarding the end of the crisis in the country, al-Qirbi said that Yemenis are proud that they have emerged with solutions that differ from what happened in Egypt or Tunisia or even Libya that cast their shadows over Yemen. He stressed that the Arab peoples are frustrated and aspire to change to the better. VP Hadi also announced this week that in accordance with the power-transfer deal, the next presidential election would be held on February 21, 2012, in line with the 90 days’ timeframe agreed upon by all political factions. A decree issued to that regard also noted that the current commission was eligible to run the elections according to the current voters’ lists. The US backed, Gulf brokered initiative stated that from the time of signature, President Saleh had 30 days to officially transfer the totality of his powers to his VP and hand over his resignation. Within this time-frame, a new coalition government would be formed and a law granting Saleh, his family and close aides immunity would be passed. The deal came after months of unrest and 3 failed promises of signature on President Saleh ‘s part. Vice President Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi said on Saturday that the vote would be held on Feb. 21 and that no party had the right to either annul or change the decree.