Yemeni local elections postponed

Yemeni sources unveiled said that a proposal to increase number of election circles in the country has been under study and implies the increase in the number of these circles from 301 to 401.

According to these sources approving this proposal requires making a new constitutional amendment on the currently enacted constitution, with many of its items were subjected to amendment and a people referendum was held on that resulted in approving it in February 2001.

The sources said that the local elections due to be held in April will be postponed for one year, in the context of furnishing the appropriate conditions to hold these measures, especially after the parliament recommended the government to reconsider in the new administrative division project for the Yemeni areas, and provinces.

The sources added that the parliamentary elections which were presumed to be held simultaneously with the postponed local elections will be held in its due time on April 27, 2003 so as the country will be not in a constitutional vacuum.

The sources indicated that the higher committee for the elections which is the official side in Yemen in charge of arranging for the election operations will start by the beginning of July the process of registering the Yemeni voters in various provinces.