By IPS Correspondents
SANAA, Apr 22 2003 (IPS)

Preparations have gone into full swing for holding the general parliamentary elections next Sunday in which 3,489 candidates are running for election in the 301 seat Yemeni parliament.

The higher committee organizing the elections told QNA more than 100,000 soldiers from the Yemeni armed forces shall be deployed to provide for the required security and guarantee that voting take place smoothly.

The total of independent candidates bidding for election have reached 684 while political parties and other political organizations have fielded 3,489 candidates including 692 candidates from the ruling General Peoples Congress Party, 891 by Al Islah Party, 901 by the Socialist Party, 56 from the Union Nassiri Party, 26 from the Reform Nassiri Party, 74 National Democratic Front, 35 Arab Ba’ath Party, 50 from the Green Party, 22 from the Union of Popular Forces, 30 from the Arab National Socialist Party, 5 from the Septemberist Party, 31 from Al Haq party, 41 from the Liberation Front, 11 from the Unity Party, 6 from Liberation Popular Union Party, 61 from Democratic Union Party, 19 from National Social Party, 41 from Popular Democratic Party, 2 from the Yemeni Union Party and 64 from the Nassiri Democratic Party.

The source said all citizens and candidates are required not to carry firearms during casting ballots and counting of ballots as the election day has been declared "a day without arms".

Any armed demonstration at any election centre will lead to a cancellation of the voting and outcome of election and the party or the candidate responsible shall have to pay for a repeat of the election and such candidate shall be barred for running for election.

The opposition parties and ruling party signed last week a document guaranteeing holding of a free and fair election away from violence and committed to respect of the law and the constitution.

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