Yemen's Tourism Minister Resigns from the Ruling Party

By Fatik Al-Rodaini

Sana'a, Mar 18, 2011- Yemen's Tourism Minister, Nabil Al-Fakeh announced on Friday his resignation from the ruling General People Congress, and from his position as a minister of Tourism.

Al-Fakeh attributed his resignation to the current political situation in Yemen, and to the negative aspect of the Yemeni authorities and in protest of the violence against protesters demanding the fall of Saleh's regime, becoming the first cabinet member to defect in the crisis.

Last month, Yemen's Tourism Minister offered an initiative for President Ali Abdullah Saleh in which he urged him to hold presidential elections soon and in coincidence with parliamentary elections, expected at year end.