SANAA, (Reuters) – Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh, hoping to defuse increasingly violent protests against his 32-year rule, said today he would draw up a new constitution to create a parliamentary system of government.
An opposition spokesman swiftly rejected the proposal, and called for the continuation of anti-government rallies, which kicked off in January and have claimed almost 30 lives.
Impoverished Yemen, a neighbour of oil giant Saudi Arabia, is one of several Arab states that have seen mass protests this year, with Saleh looking increasingly weakened by the unrest.
Speaking to thousands of cheering supporters gathered in a soccer stadium, the autocratic Saleh said he wanted to form a unity government to help put in place a new political system.
“Firstly we will form a new constitution based on the separation of powers. A referendum on this new constitution will be held before the end of this year,” he said, speaking beneath a large portrait of himself.
“I’m already sure that this initiative won’t be accepted by the opposition, but in order to do the right thing, I am offering this to the people and they will decide,” he added.
Yemen is a presidential republic, where the head of state wields significant powers. But as water and oil resources dry up, it has become increasingly difficult to fuel the patronage system that kept his tribal and political backers loyal.
The rotating president of Yemen’s umbrella opposition coalition, Yassin Noman, said his plan was too little, too late, and would not put an end to calls for Saleh’s resignation.
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