SANAN’A, Feb 29 — Discussions are underway to make wide-ranging changes of local authorities that will include governors, their deputies and security chiefs, sources from the Yemeni opposition told the Yemen Times.

The sources said that some members of the General Peoples Congress attempted to hinder such moves under the pretext that the implementation mechanism of the GCC-mediated power transfer deal did not provide such amendments.

The opposition source pointed out that United Nations special envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar supports such amendments, despite the fact that the deal does not directly stipulate changes of governors and their deputies.

Akhbar Al-Yawm Newspaper, which has close links with major general Ali Mohsen, quoted sources close to the senior leader of the General People Congress, Dr. Abdul-Karim Al-Eryani, as saying that all  sides signed on to the GCC deal agreed on a reconciliation plan to make wide-ranging changes with the local authorities of all Yemeni governorates.

The sources affirmed that the move will simultaneously come with the replacement of security officials, especially officials from those governorates that witnessed high levels of insecurity and lawlessness.

Media sources said that newly-elected president Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi will hold a meeting with leaders from the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) to discuss the priorities of the up-coming stage, which should include the reconstruction of the military and security services and preparations for an inclusive national dialogue conference.

Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary-General of the GPC Sultan Al-Barakani said the GCC deal only dictates the formation of a government partnership, but that it does not mention other things.

In remarks to Yemeni media outlets, Al-Barakani - designated by the opposition to be among the GPC’s “hawks” - said governors and local council officials must be elected according to the law.

Minister of Local Authorities Ali Al-Yazidi stated two weeks ago that governors would be appointed under a mutual reconciliation in May.

Some members of parliament have meanwhile demanded the election of a President’s Board of Parliament, pointing out that the legal period for the past board has expired.

Al-Barakani, who is also the head of the GCC parliamentary bloc and one of the closest officials to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, objected to opposition demands, saying that the transition stage did not require changes to the current board.

Meanwhile, media sources said that aides close to Saleh left Yemen after Hadi’s election, citing that  former security chief of Taiz Abdullah Qairan, charged with committing crimes in Taiz, left for Cairo, and that chief of the Armed Forces Moral Guidance Department Ali Al-Shater went to Dubai.

While news report have stated that Saleh would leave for Ethiopia in the coming days, officials from the GPC have said that Saleh will stay in Yemen for the long-term.

What has been called the “revolution of institutions” has hit many public authorities and resulted in the ouster of many Yemeni officials, with employees insisting on their firing.