Almotamar.net - Yemen's minister of legal affairs Dr Rashad al-Rassas said Wednesday the government has the right to approve any legal amendments and refer them to the parliament. He pointed out that approval of the government of a draft amendment to elections and referendum law that the government sent to parliament on Tuesday came on basis of agreement of principles signed by the political parties in June 2006.

Minister al-Rasas added to almotamar.net that drafting the amendment came in accordance with the agreement of principles among the political parties, affirming that the approach the legal end of the period of the Supreme Commission for election next November was the reason that urged the government to adopt the amendment.

The minister added that the amendment of the election law is within the frame of the government implementation of its programme and the platform of the president of the republic both of which contain amendments on many draft laws in including the elections law, adding that they governed by defined dates.

It is to be mentioned that the political parties represented in the dialogue have not abided by naming their representatives to the committee whish was agreed on undertaking drafting amendments of the electoral law except for the General People's Congress that was the only party to name a representative in it.

The government approved on Tuesday a draft amendment of the elections and referendum law so that it includes the formation of the higher commission for elections composed of nine judges to be appointed by a residential decree.