Yemen's president said on Thursday he has dismissed Vice President Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar and delegated his own powers to a presidential council that will carry out leadership duties.
The new body will assume the duties of both the president and his deputy, said a statement from President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi delivered by Information Minister Moammer al-Eryani.
The leadership council, made up of a chair and seven deputy chairmen, will be led by Rashad Al-Alimi. Deputy chairs include the leader of the Southern Transitional Council Aidarous al-Zubaidi.
The chairman and members of the council are committed to the principle of collective responsibility and their quest to achieve the highest degree of consensus among them.
The new presidential leadership council would assume the duties of the president and his deputy and carry out political, military, and security duties for the Yemeni government.
It would also seek adopting a balanced foreign policy that achieves the supreme national interests of the state and builds it on the basis of independence and common interests in a manner that preserves the sovereignty, security and borders of the state.
Moreover, the council will facilitate the government’s exercise of its powers with its full powers throughout the transitional phase. It will also help by adopting the necessary policies to enhance security and combat terrorism throughout Yemen.
The council would also seek the formation of the joint security and military committee to achieve security and stability by adopting policies that would prevent the occurrence of any armed confrontations in all parts of the country.
It would also create the needed conditions and take the necessary steps to achieve the integration of the armed forces under a unified national command structure within the framework of the rule of law.
The council would also work to end divisions in the armed forces and all armed conflicts. It will also establish a national doctrine for members of the army and security services.
Apart from its efforts to enhance stability and security, the council would also promote equality among citizens.