23 Feb 2012

Elections in Yemen

5:39 am on 23 February 2012

Elections have been taking place in Yemen for a new president to replace Ali Abdullah Saleh, who held power for 33 years.

Vice president Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi is the only candidate.

But polling stations in the southern city of Aden were forced to close early after gunmen killed at least eight soldiers at polling stations.

Baroness Nicholson, a British election observer Baroness Nicholson told the BBC World Service that no-one at the polling station where she was located, was injured.

She did not think she had been the target of the attack.

The new president is due to stay in office for two years. The BBC reports a further round of presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled then.