By:Jamil al-Jadabi - SANA�A- Head of Planning and Technical Affairs of the Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum (SCER) said Saturday some 550 candidates for local elections have withdrawn their candidacy at the level of districts.

SCER member Dr. Mohammed al-Sayyani told almotamar.net the SCER closed the withdrawal period for local candidates at the level of districts, while the withdrawal period at the level of governorates will close on 31 August.

According to available statistics, the number of independent candidates who withdrew from their candidacy has reached 500; 16 candidates of Islah Party; 2 candidates of General People�s Congress (GPC); 4 candidates of the Yemeni Socialist Party; and 3 candidates of Nasserite Unionist Party. The rest of candidates belong to other political parties. There are 8 women candidates that withdrew from their candidacy at the level of districts both in Sana�a and Aden.
Taiz precedes other governorates in the number of candidates that withdrew their candidacy for local councils, followed by the Capital Secretariat and Sana�a governorate.