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New Political Bloc Big Blow to Yemen's President
A new bloc was formed from within President-for-Life Saleh's ruling General People Congress GPC party causing a direct blow to Saleh efforts to keep his rule powerful. At least twenty members of parliament resigned from Saleh's party and joined the bloc.

The bloc called for Saleh to step down immediately. "We will only stand with an initiative that calls for Saleh to step down from power, said Mohammed Abu Lahoum, founder of the political bloc.

The bloc, called the Justice and Development bloc, is formed of numerous ministers and members of parliament who resigned from the ruling party.

"The main goals of the bloc to build a civil and modern nation that will ensure freedom, justice, and equality to all Yemenis," said AbuLahoum.

The revolution is the backbone of this bloc and that is why the revolution must continue peaceful. The revolution was able to put the Islah and Houthis on the same grounds as well as the northern tribes and southerners with the same agenda," added AbuLahoum.

Three of the resigned ministers from the ruling party were among key members of the bloc. The resigned ministers of tourism, human rights
...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty...
and transportation are key members of the bloc whose goal is to unite the ruling party but under a different leadership. Resigned human rights minister Huda al-Ban said this bloc will ensure that change is for the people and they will come first. "Normal people are the cornerstone of our bloc. They will be served," said al-Ban.

Yahya Shami, a leading founder of the bloc said, "This bloc will be independent and will work for the sake of the people. We say to the revolution youth, you are the nations future and the leaders of the future Yemen."

Spokesperson for the bloc Abdul Aziz Gubari made clear that solutions of Yemen's crises must be up to the standards of the Yemeni people.

The bloc was forced to launch at a residence of one of the members after they were denied a license to hold the conference. Tens of security forces were surrounding the hall they had prepared for the launch.
Posted by: Fred 2011-04-19
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=320726