SANAA, September 29 (RIA Novosti) – The General Secretary of Yemeni ruling party, Abdul Aziz Jubari, on Monday unveiled five candidates for the post of the country's prime minister.
"More than five candidates are running for prime minister, but the following people are probable candidates for the post: Minister and former ambassador Yahya Hussein Arashi, Director-General of the Arab Labor Organization Ahmed Mohammed Luqman, Muhammad Ali Iboulihom, the leader of The Justice and Development Party, Dr. Mohamed Mohamed [Matghar], deputy minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Abdullah Saidi, former Yemen's UN Ambassador," Jubari said.
Prime Minister Mohammed Salim resigned September 23 amid riots staged by Houthis, a Shiite insurgent group operating in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
"President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi would decide on the designation of the head of the government in accordance with the peace agreement, signed between the Houthis and the government," the politician added.
Thousands of Houthi followers have staged anti-government rallies in Sanaa in recent weeks. According to Yemen's Health Ministry, about 300 people were killed during last week's clashes between the government forces and followers of the Houthi movement.
Over the weekend, the sides signed an agreement to end days of fighting, but the rebels remain in control of much of Yemen's capital and continue to occupy a number of governmental buildings.
