Almotamar.net - A recent US State department report has praised Yemen's adoption of a national strategy for reform that accomplished progress in fighting corruption, developing performance and independence of judiciary and expanding freedoms of the media. Yemen has witnessed in this respect sharp drop in attacking journalists who criticise the government, describing the presidential and local elections on September 20 as a historic step of democracy in Yemen.

The US State department in its report that the Yemeni government improved its asset by taking steps for limiting corruption including the ousting of many judges, interrogating them and accusing them of their abuse of public service as well as approval of the law of financial obligations of government officials and the establishment of an independent committee for fighting corruption but the weak government institution and spread corruption continued in weakening the civilian freedoms.

The report, referred to the Congress on supporting human rights and democracy in Yemen during 2006 added that the United States was firm in its supporting for consolidating democracy f the political parties, improving management of elections, enhancement of free elections and supporting initiatives against corruption, considering those efforts had great effect in the country and resulted in progress in combating corruption and an increase in the woman representation in the government and confirmation on independence of the judiciary.

The report, published in newsyemen.net website referred to the reforms being implemented in Yemen prominently that president Ali Abdullah Saleh has named a new cabinet and adopted a national strategy for reform to fight corruption, expand freedom of the media, develop performance and independence of the judiciary and supported that by president Saleh's relinquishment of chairmanship of the Higher judiciary Council, indicating that the United States programme in this direction focused on helping the Higher Judiciary Council to establish its independence from the executive power.

With regard to the American support to opposition parties in Yemen the report mentioned that America's role was embodied by directing them to demands of political reforms and linking them to international support groups and supported the opposition parties (Joint Meeting Parties) to reach an agreement with the ruling General People's Congress party on issues of elector registration, obtaining a share in the TV transmission and also contributed to the efforts of support to guarantee the progress of elections and the opposition parties launching of strong campaigned against president Saleh.


Regarding the woman the efforts led to the woman political participation and creation of a network composed of representatives for the largest five political parties and those worked for consolidating the woman role in their parties.