Yemeni Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi Wednesday disclosed in a republican decree the new opposition-led national reconciliation government's line-up according to a Gulf-brokered power-transfer initiative, state SABA news agency reported.

Yemeni Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi speaks at a meeting of the ruling party in Sanaa, Yemen, Dec. 7, 2011. Hadi here on Wednesday disclosed in a republican decree the lineup of the new opposition-led national reconciliation government based on a Gulf-brokered power-transfer initiative, state Saba news agency reported. (Xinhua Photo)
"Based on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) initiative and its implementing mechanism that were signed in Riyadh on Nov. 23, and in accordance to the nominees submitted by the ruling party and the opposition coalition, we announce the new government's 35- member line-up," SABA quoted the decree signed by Hadi as saying.

The cabinet with equal participation of the opposition and ruling party is led by Prime Minister Mohamed Basindwa, an opposition leader who was nominated to head the new government in line with the GCC initiative.

The 35-member line-up consisted of two lists, each with 17 ministerial portfolios, as well as Prime Minister Basindwa. The ruling party chose list A which includes ministers of defense, foreign affairs, oil and minerals, higher education and scientific research, communication and information technology, public works and roads, religious guidance and endowments, tourism, expatriate affairs, agriculture and irrigation, public health, social and labor affairs, fisheries, youth and sport, civil service and social security, cabinet affairs, and state.

Meanwhile, the opposition coalition seized the list B, including the ministers of information, local administration, interior, finance, planning and international cooperation, education, technical education and vocational training, justice, legal affairs, industry and trade, transport, culture, human rights, water and environment, electricity, as well as another two ministers of state.

Five ministers of Saleh's former government were appointed in the new one, including Abu Bakr al-Qerbi who retained his position as foreign minister.

Yemen has been gripped by a political crisis since late January when protests demanding an end to Saleh's 33-year rule erupted.

The opposition coalition and the ruling party signed the GCC deal on Nov. 23 in an attempt to end the crisis. Under the deal, early presidential elections are set to be held on Feb. 21, 2012, while Saleh retains the title of honorary president for 90 days before his resignation and has been granted immunity from prosecution.

Meanwhile, the ruling party held an extraordinary meeting here on Wednesday, announcing Vice President Hadi as the consensus candidate for the early presidential elections in line with the GCC initiative, according to SABA.

"Based on the agreed implementing mechanism of the GCC initiative and the UN Security Council resolution, Saleh will ... transfer power to the new elected president," SABA quoted Hadi as saying in a speech he delivered at the meeting.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet