Yemen's ruling party, opposition discuss military council Sanaa – Khaled Haroji  Sources in the Yemeni opposition have revealed that the ruling General People's Congress (GPC) party, and opposition parties in the Joint Meeting bloc are in talks regarding the formation of a military commission. The meetings, headed by acting President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, are debating on the commission which was one of the stipulations of the Gulf-brokered peace deal. The committee is supposed to calm the volatile situation in the country and end divisions between military and security institutions.
The committee, which is to be set up within 48 hours, is also reponsible to remove barricades and security checkpoints deployed in Yemeni cities, particularly in capital Sanaa.
The military commission will also hold the task of ending the division in the two security and military institutions, between supporters of the peaceful youth revolution, and the loyalists of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The considerably important task of restructuring of the army and police will be implemented in two phases, and completed before parliamentary and presidential elections.
The restructuring of the army and police is to be done on a purely nationalistic basis so as to remove the influence of Saleh and his associates on the country's security forces gradually over nearly two years.
Regarding the formation of the national reconciliation government by Mohammed Salim Basindwa, the leader of the Yemeni opposition, the sources said the two sides (the ruling party and the opposition) were currently holding internal discussions to set the criteria and conditions for membership in the anticipated government. The sources also confirmed that the places of the JMP bloc and the National Council of the forces of the peaceful youth revolution depended on the standards of competence and integrity in the selection of ministers regardless of their affiliations, stressing that it would be away from a "quota system" and based on merit.
Sources explained that after the talks, one of the two sides will put the two lists defined in the peace plan, in which the ministerial portfolios will be distributed, to choose one for themselves and the other for the other side, so that each side will nominate the right persons for the ministries and the positions would be equally divided between the two parties.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Yemen's cities on Tuesday to protest what is largely seen as an "immunity deal" for Saleh. Activists want Saleh and his associates to go on trial for the killings of pro-democracy activists during the uprising.
The UN Security Council stressed the need to conduct trials for all officials responsible of human rights violations in Yemen. In its session, which was held on Tuesday to discuss the commitment of parties of Yemen in implementing Council resolution No. 2014, the UNSC urged all parties to facilitate humanitarian access and work with the United Nations and the international community as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council to achieve permanent peace and stability in the country.
The Council also insisted timetable specified in the agreement be followed through, including the formation of a government of national consensus and holding presidential elections within 90 days, conducting a national dialogue, amending the Constitution and developing a reform programme to address the humanitarian, economic, security challenges facing Yemen.