SANAA, Yemen, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Tension is increasing between Yemen's ruling People's Congress Party and the opposition over badly needed and long-delayed reforms.
The opposition which has been pressing for political reforms as a priority for economic changes, has been accused by the ruling party of acting at the behest of outside forces and with foreign inspiration.
The head of the political department at the ruling party, Younes Hazza, said at a debate on reforms late Friday night that the government rejects opposition calls for political reforms because "any reforms should be in line with the constitution and the law, and not be dictated by the outside.
"I don't believe that the political system in Yemen needs to be reformed, but I think it is the opposition that needs reforms... The main challenge facing Yemen is rebuilding the economy," Hazza said, calling on the opposition to "stop tarnishing Yemen's image because that would reflect adversely on investment."
For his part, opposition leader Mohammed Motawakel rejected the ruling party's accusations, stressing that "political reform should be at the heart of the overall reform process in the country."
