In brief [Archives:2008/1142/Local News]

SANA'A

Parliament denounces Dutch anti-Islamic film

The Parliament denounced in its session held on Saturday a film produced by the Dutch Parliament member Geert Wilders that abuses Islam and Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

The Parliament highly denounced insistence of the producer on showing the film, noting that the film is an incentive work for discrimination against Muslims.

In the session chaired by Speaker Yahya al-Ra'ei, the Parliament affirmed the necessity of respecting religions, cultures, civilizations and societies, and not using freedom of expression for abusing beliefs of others and inciting for hate and seduction amongst peoples.

The Parliament appreciated stance of Dutch Prime Minister and a number of European officials who denounced the film and strictly criticized previous thoughts targeting Islam and religious symbols, indicating the good relations between Yemen and the European Union.

ABYAN

Defense minister inspects 312 Brigade

Defense Minister Mohammad Ahmad along with Abyan governor paid on Saturday an inspection visit to 312 Brigade and a number of security units where he inspected carrying out fighting, operational and security training for the year 2008.

Addressing the brigade members, the minister affirmed the necessity of exerting efforts for carrying out duties assigned to military and security forces.

He noted concern of the political leadership to military and security institutions as well as Yemeni people for improving their livelihood and improving situations of homeland guards.

AMRAN

Workshop on preserving water, soil kicked off in Amran

Organized by Amran Local Authority, in cooperation with German Technical Corporation (GTZ), a workshop on preserving water and soil held here on Saturday.

Participated by 27 participants from concerned bodies, the workshop discusses work papers on the importance of activities of preserving water and soil.

In the opening ceremony, deputy governor of Amran Bakr Ali affirmed the importance of topics being discussed in the workshop that focus on defining water problems, mechanisms of protecting Amran water basin and limiting random diggings leading to exhausting ground water, noting that such enlightenment activities would contribute to finding suitable solutions for protecting water.

He indicated that random diggings for ground water would lead to a catastrophe of exhausting water of the basin at an area estimated at 1280 square meters, calling for integrating efforts for putting an end to such diggings.

DHAMAR

Earthquake hits Dhamar, but no casualties

An earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale hit on Saturday the province of Dhamar, officials at the Center of Earthquake Monitoring said.

They pointed that the earthquake which took place in the dawn was not followed by new earthquakes.

The earthquake was identified at the line length 44.31 to north and line width 14.53 to east at the area of Wadi al-Har, 21 kilometers from southeast of Dhamar city.

“No causalities have been reported