YEMEN - Abdel Karim Al Iryani

The Prime Minister since May 16, 1998, Dr. Iryani is secretary general of the ruling GPC. He was previously deputy premier and foreign minister. His priorities are: (1) the economy, which has suffered with the falling price of oil, and the reforms programme launched in 1995; (2) paving the way for Yemen's first direct presidential elections due in October 1999 and making sure that Saleh will be the winner; and (3) internal security, with emphasis on ending tribal kidnapping of foreigners. Iryani was born in Sanaa on Feb. 20, 1935, to one of Yemen's aristocratic clans based in Iryan. Leaders of this clan head some of the most distinguished families of qadis (Islamic jurists) and landed shaikhs, notably including former president Qadi Abdel Rahman Al Iryani, who died in Damascus in March 1998 at the age of 80, and who was the premier's uncle. Iryani got degrees from the US universities of Texas, Georgia and Yale, ending with a PhD in biochemical genetics. He began his career as director of Wadi Zeid Agricultural Project, 1968-69. He also served as: head of Central Planning Organisation (CPO), 1972-74; development minister & head of CPO, 1974-77; minister of education & president of Sanaa University, 1976-78; agriculture minister, March-July 1979; prime minister, Oct. 1980-83; chairman of the Supreme Council for Reconstruction of areas devastated by the 1982 earthquake which killed about 3,000 people; deputy premier & foreign minister, Nov. 1984- May 1993; planning & development minister, May 1993-1994; and deputy premier & foreign minister May 1994-98. Having vowed to pursue economic reforms launched in 1995, Iryani presided over the current phase which featured a rise by 25-55% in fuel prices on June 18. The move caused violent riots in the subsequent days, with several people killed in clashes with security forces, despite a June 19 announcement of a 15% pay rise for civil servants and the armed forces. The rioters demanded Iryani's resignation.