Most members of Yemen's parliament withdrew from a Wednesday session after Mohammad Al-Shaif, a representative and tribal leader, insulted Prime Minister Mohammad Salem Basindwa and threatened the Finance Minister Sakhr Al-Wajih with beating.
Al-Shaif who is among the most loyal leaders to the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh said Basindwa is not a Yemeni, dubbing him as a Somali and threatening Al-Wejih with beating after the latter objected to the insults against Basindwa and the government.
Some members of the General People Congress demanded Al-Shaif to apologize, but he refused, saying that he does not recognize the Yemeni government and described its members as toys.
Al-Wajih had carried out reforms inside the Finance Ministry that outraged a large number of Saleh's aides, particularly tribal leaders who Saleh used to allocate them billions of rials annually.
Members of parliament expressed sorrow about insults used by Al-Shaif, pointing out that some sides seek to break down reconciliation reached by Yemenis and ignite conflicts.
Mohammmad Al-Hazmi, a lawmaker, said the Yemeni government and the Finance Minister are attacked as it took courageous decisions to keep public money.
A Yemeni analyst said the insults of Al-Shaif came after the government suspended financial appropriations for tribal leaders, affirming that the suspension pushed Al-Shaif to continuously attacks Basindwa and its government.
While tribal leaders in Yemen are accused of committing violations, abusing people, breaching laws, imposing tributes and looting lands, they receive monthly salaries and other privileges from the government and even from foreign countries.