Political argument leads to killing of Islah party member [Archives:2006/918/Local News]

AL-DHALIE, Jan. 29 ) Ma'ath Abdu Salah Al-Maliki, a member of the Yemeni reform group Islah, was killed by a General People's Congress (GPC) member in intense arguing about the Hamas organization's huge victory in last week's Palestinian Parliamentary election.

Al-Maliki was killed during a qat-chewing session while arguing intensely with some of his relatives about the possibility of repeating such an event in Yemen's next local and presidential elections.

The argument turned into a competition between the GPC and Islah. Al-Maliki insisted Islah could overcome the GPC and win upcoming elections, as happened in Palestinian elections. The murderer became angry with Al-Maliki, who persisted in Islah's ability to win the next election.

Al-Maliki believed Yemenis are dissatisfied with GPC ruling party policies, particularly in Al-Dhalie province, as demonstrated by nationwide protests against oil product price hikes in July 2005. Angry protesters of GPC policies attacked its headquarters, expressing their anger at the government.

Other qat session attendees reportedly did not support the Islah party. They said the ballot boxes would lead to wide-ranging alterations in the next election, as happened in Egypt and Palestine.
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