Yemen wins EITI membership

PARIS- March 2, 2011- Yemen was accepted on Wednesday as the first country in the Middle East joining the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

The announcement was made by the EITI board at the 5th EITI Global Conference running in Paris on 2-3 March.

Amir al Aidrous, Minister of Oil and Minerals, head of the Yemeni delegation to the meeting, said Yemen's joining the EITI will promote transparency in extractive industries which can help boost investment in the country.

For his part, head of the Yemen EITI Council, Muhammad Muqbil, said the accession affirmed Yemen's inclination to adopt transparency as one of the pillars of good governance in payments and returns of the extractive industries sector.

In November 2010, Yemen published the first report on extractive industries for 2005-2007 that included oil incomes and data about payments by companies producing oil in the country and the government returns during the three years.

In 2007, Yemen was nominated for the EITI membership.

The EITI includes governments, companies, civil society organizations, investors and international organizations working on improving the public management system in natural resource-rich countries through publishing reliable information about company payments and government returns from oil, gas and minerals activities.

Source: (Saba)

Saleh Assigns Five new Governors

By Fatik Al-Rodaini
Sana'a- Mar 2, 2011- President Ali Abduallh Saleh appointed five new governors in Aden, Hadramout, Hodeida, Lahj, and Jowf provinces.
The new decree assigned Ahmed Mohamed Katabi as a governor of Aden, Khaled Saeed Al-Daeini as a governor of Hadramout, Akram Abdullah Atiea as a governor of Hodeida, Ahmed Abdullah Al-Majedi as a governor of Lahj, and Yehia Ghober as a governor of Jowf.
The decree came after one day of the dismissal of four governors of four provinces in Yemen's southern and eastern provinces.

Sit-Inner Dies of Heart Failure in Yemen Capital

Sana'a- Mar 2, 2011- A sit-inner died on Wednesday at Sana'a University where hundreds of thousands of people are continuing their sit-in vowing they will not abandon the square of change until the government was ousted.

According to medics within the sit-in, Khalid died tonight of heart failure.

His fellows called him the martyr of strife after they had prayed upon him in the street.

At least two protesters were killed and others injured in clashes between pro and anti-government protesters in Sana'a since the youths started their sit-in almost twenty days ago at the eastern gate of Sana'a University.

The university has been a gathering point for anti-government protests in the aftermath of the Tunisian and Egyptian revolts.

Source: Yemen Post

WH: Yemen's leader telephones regret over remarks

WASHINGTON- Mar 2, 2011- The White House says Yemen's president has telephoned his regret for any misunderstanding caused by his public accusations that the U.S. and Israel are behind the unrest threatening his 32-year rule.

During Wednesday's call with homeland security adviser John Brennan, President Ali Abdullah Saleh also reaffirmed his commitment to meaningful political reform. Thousands of people have been demonstrating across the Middle Eastern country in support of democratic change and Saleh's ouster.

Brennan responded that comments that seek to lay blame for recent developments in the region are unhelpful.

On Tuesday, Saleh accused President Barack Obama of meddling in the affairs of Arab countries. He asked whether Obama is president of the United States or president of the Arab world. Saleh also said Israel was behind the protest movement.

Source: AP

Yemeni Authorities Arrest Dozens in Aden

By Fatik Al-Rodaini

Aden- Mar 2, 2011- Yemen's security forces arrested dozens of Southern Movement members in Yemen's southern port of Aden.

Sources said that Yemeni security forces have been arresting activists in Aden and southern provinces for the past two weeks.

Yemen's authorities accused the separatists in the south of inciting and provoking people against the Yemeni government.

U.S. Embassy Urges Respect for Press Freedom in Yemen

PRESS RELEASES

Sana'a- Mar 2, 2011- The United States Embassy in Sana'a has watched with concern recent infringements of press freedom in Yemen. This includes blocking Al-Masdar's website from being viewed within Yemen, which was also condemned by the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, in addition to threats of deporting correspondents, and mistreatment of journalists covering protests.

The U.S. Embassy considers freedom of the press as the primary instrument for the public to hold its government accountable and to make its own views known. Responsible and independent media perform an essential function in a democratic society. The Embassy calls on the Yemeni government to demonstrate its respect for the role of independent media as stipulated by Yemen's constitution and laws by taking immediate, concrete steps to ensure that the media can operate in Yemen freely, securely, and without government interference.

Two People Killed and others Wounded in Lahj

By Fatik Al-Rodaini

Sana'a- Mar 2, 2011- At least two people were killed and several others wounded on Wednesday in Yemen's southern province of Lahj during clashes between security forces and civilians.

Eyewitnesses said that civilians from Lahj attacked a project of Al-Saleh town in Marekh Naji district and occupied the apartments within the projects.

Sources told the Yemen Post that civilians damaged two patrol vehicles and others military equipments.