Yemen Announces 30-Day State of Emergency

World | March 23, 2011, Wednesday // 15:06|  views

The state of emergency, declared by Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh, has been approved by the parliament. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Yemen's Parliament has approved a law imposing a 30-day state of emergency, declared by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, following escalating protests against his 32-year rule.

The law suspends the constitution, allows media censorship, bars street protests and gives security forces 30 days of far-reaching powers to detain and arrest suspects without judicial process, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

More than 50 people have been killed in the unrest, which started two months ago. Earlier, Saleh warned that the demonstrations might bring Yemen into a civil war.

He has offered to step down within months, but protesters and opposition insist on his immediate resignation.

Only about 160 of the 301 MPs attended Wednesday's parliamentary session. Opposition and independent MPs, as well as some members of Saleh's ruling General People's Congress, boycotted the vote.

According to Abdul Razaq al-Hajri of the opposition Al-Islah party, the resolution was illegal and there was "no such thing as a state of emergency" in Yemen.

The government's move was also rejected by the protesters in the Sanaa square. They claimed that the revolution now decides the future of their nation and that they do not pay attention to the measure.

On Sunday, Saleh fired his entire cabinet in response to the protests against his rule. He has stated that his opponents are attempting to carry out a coup against him and warned that "there will be a civil war, a bloody war".

The president has been in power for 32 years, facing a separatist movement in the south, a branch of al-Qaeda, and a periodic conflict with Shia tribes in the north.

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Tags: Yemen, state of emergency, parliament, president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, protests

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