By: Abdul-Karim al-Nahari and Mohammed al-Shami - DHAMAR- A number of the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) and Islah candidates has withdrawn from their candidacy in favor of General People's Congress (GPC)'s candidates in Dhamar governorate, an official source said yesterday.

The source noted Al-Dhafer Ali Mohammed al-Qadhi, a candidate of Islah in constituency No. (209); Abdullah Nasser al-Sublah, a candidate of Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP) in constituency No. (210)-center (D); Faisal Mohammed Ahmed Zaid, a candidate of Islah; Hassan Mohammed al-Emad, a candidate of Islah in constituency No. (210)-center (G); Muse'd Ahmed Ali Saleh, a candidate of Islah in constituency No. (196); and Mohammed Ali al-Subli have withdrawn from their candidacy for local councils in favor of GPC's candidates of their own accord, finding that only the GPC is close to the people as is evident in its national achievements that give credit to it and its candidates.

In Amran governorate, likewise, Majed Saleh Ahmed al-Barai, a candidate of Islah in constituency No. (287), Raida district, has withdrawn from his candidacy for local councils in favor of the GPC candidate
.
Center (Q) of the constituency No. (287) was the golden center for Islah during the previous elections. The withdrawal of the Islahi candidate came at the backdrop of resignations of prominent Islahi figures last week.

A neutral local source in Amran governorate told almotamar.net that the Islahi leadership undergoes a crisis of confidence due to escalating differences that have not been disclosed among its leaders with multiple loyalties and hostile attitudes towards the YSP.