Why does the U.S. think it has the right to intrude in other countries?

SANA’A, Jan. 2? — Yemen’s Parliament has firmly stood its ground to go ahead with plans to amend its constitution despite calls from the United States to delay the matter.

The latest controversial constitutional amendment could ensure that President Ali Abdullah Saleh rules the country for life. Yemen’s parliament agreed on Saturday – in what seemed like a rushed decision – to review the proposed constitutional reforms following calls from the U.S. that it should delay procedures.

Yemen’s parliamentary procedure states that new proposals must be presented at least 72 hours in advance of any parliamentary debate, vote and subsequent committee referral. However, on Saturday the speaker of the parliament pushed the proposal through in one day in reaction to a suggestion, made by the U.S., to delay procedures.

On Friday, an “urgent” statement was released by the U.S. acting State Department Spokesman Mark C. Toner in Washington, calling on all Yemeni political parties to delay parliamentary action and to return to the negotiating table to reach an agreement that “will be welcomed by the Yemeni people as well as Yemen's friends.”

“We will not submit to the American call not to vote for amendments, because we are not a US chamber here,” said Yahya Al-Ra’ee, speaker of the parliament.

[From The Yemen Times]