Ruling party in Yemen strongly criticizes the speaker of parliament

The ruling Yemeni congress party launched a strong attack against the speaker of the parliament and leader of the opposition al-Islah ( reforms) party, Abdullah Bin Hussein al-Ahmar, after he described the country as "have entered a dark tunnel."

The party site on the Internet described al-Ahmar as "distorting the consciousness of people," accusing him of being a hireling for a neighboring state.

Al-Ahmar stressed in his party's congress, of Islamic inclination, which was opened on Saturday, that the two past years "witnessed numerous practices which are considered a setback for the democratic process," noting that "the living and economic condition in Yemen is threatening of a grave catastrophe." In the same context, al-Islah party called for making a serious dialogue between various sides in the authority and the opposition.

In a statement he made following the conclusion of his third conference, he expressed "deep concern" over the practices conducted by certain influential sides in the ruling party towards "work partners in national action," stressing simultaneously the need to joining together towards issues of concern to the country.

He also expressed regret the authorities practices to "harass and confiscate freedoms and rights" in the media field and what journalists have been exposed to of acts of kidnapping and detentions and the attempts to control trade unions, as he alleged.

Worthy mentioning that al-Islah party was a partner for the ruling Congress Party in two coalition governments. It moved to the lines of the opposition in 1997 after the Congress Party attained a majority in the parliament that enabled it forming a government solely. The "strategic" relation continued between the two parties until they split in 2001 following the first local councils elections in the country.