SANAA , 2 January —— Hundreds of Yemenis demonstrated yesterday in the province of Baida, south of the capital Sanaa, to call for the creation of new districts in the province to avoid tribal friction in future, according to a tribal leader.
The crowd "threatened to boycott the municipal elections and the referendum on the constitution, planned for Feb. 20, to demand the creation of seven new districts," the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP.
He said the new districts would be added to the existing 12 and would make it possible "to avoid all friction and tribal clashes" particularly during municipal elections.
The demonstrators would maintain their vigil in front of Baida's government building until their demands were met, he added.
The 12 administrative districts of Baida in some cases split up members of the same tribe, which often causes friction with the tribes of the same or another district during the elections or a referendum.
The first municipal elections in Yemen since unification in 1990 are due to be held Feb. 20, and will coincide with a referendum on changes to the constitution.
The changes put forward by President Ali Abdullah Saleh and approved by parliament would allow for the presidential term to be extended from five to seven years, renewable just once, and the parliamentary mandate from four to six years.
