“More investment on Socotra,” Saleh declared [Archives:2006/980/Front Page]

Yemen Times Staff & Agencies
SOCOTRA, Sept. 10 ) “I call for more investment on Socotra Island while maintaining the island's environment,” General People's Congress presidential candidate Ali Abdullah Saleh declared Sunday at a Socotra rally.

“The Kuwaiti government will fund a community college on the island,” he announced, adding that a sports stadium is due to be established this next year, in addition to a modern electricity network covering various parts of the island.

He concluded, “Socotra is nice and calm. Like Hadramout, Socotra is characterized by calmness, security, stability and obedience to law and order.”

In Shabwa, Saturday

In his campaign in Shabwa, which was held on Saturday, President Saleh directed security officials to allow the audience to come closer to where he was addressing them on Saturday. Saleh twice moved closer to the audience prior to speaking, at which crowds chanted enthusiastically for him.

Additionally, NewsYemen reported, “When an audience member fell, President Saleh ordered his private doctor to give him first aid.”

The president asserted that Yemeni Socialist Party and Islah Party leaders and members will vote for “moderation against extremism and for development along with all other Yemenis.

“They will refuse to join neither the left nor the right,” he added, hinting at Islah Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hussein Al-Ahmar's support.

Saleh further told citizens in the oil-rich governorate that 90 percent of oil firm jobs will be 'Yemenized.'

Fathi Al-Azab campaigns at Sa'ada rally

Independent candidate Fathi Al-Azab continues to garner increased interest in Sa'ada on Saturday, where area residents crowded the Cultural Center and surrounding hall to attend his election rally.

The Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum (SCER) had planned to conduct Al-Azab's rally at Al-Sa'eed Complex, but when he wasn't allowed to enter, it moved to the Cultural Center.

Al-Azab stated in his remarks, “The state's function is to provide primary services and education and health projects not just during election season.”

He asserted that soldiers' salaries don't meet their needs, declaring that the state doesn't deal fairly with army and security forces.

Al-Azab further indicated, “Yemen's unity is firm, as it's the fate of all Yemenis,” and called Sa'ada voters to “verify and choose the right candidate to secure a promising future.”
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