Security forces, separatists clashes kill one in Yemen

Clashes have broken out between Southern Movement supporters and Yemeni security forces, leaving one member of the government forces dead.

According to Yemeni media, the skirmishes which occurred at a security checkpoint in the southern city of Aden early on Sunday ended with the intervention of supporters of Shia Ansarullah fighters.

The fighting came a day after gunmen from the secessionist Harak movement of southern Yemen overran security checkpoints in Ataq, Shabwa Province.

Local authorities in Shabwa also stated on Saturday that they would desist receiving orders from the central government in the country’s capital, Sana’a.

On Friday, the southern Yemen separatists launched rallies in Aden, calling for independence from Sana’a.

Political uncertainty looms large over the Arab country days after President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the cabinet of Prime Minister Khaled Bahah resigned over pressure from Ansarullah revolutionaries of Houthi movement. The parliament, however, rejected Hadi’s resignation pending an emergency session.

Yemen power vacuum

The Yemeni parliament on Sunday once again delayed the extraordinary session that aimed at discussing President Hadi’s resignation, with state news agency Saba saying that the emergency meeting was postponed to “another date which will be decided later to make sure all members are informed to attend.”

Under the Yemeni constitution, if the president’s resignation is accepted, the parliament speaker will take office for an interim period while new elections are organized.

Lawmakers were initially set to meet on Friday to discuss the resignation request. However, presidential adviser Sultan al-Atwani said the meeting had been postponed.

Ansarullah fighters gained control of Sana’a in September 2014, following a four-day battle with army forces loyal to General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, the half-brother of the country’s former dictator, Ali Abdullah Saleh.

In the same month, Ansarullah fighters and the Yemeni government inked a UN-backed ceasefire deal that called for the withdrawal of the revolutionaries from the capital once a neutral prime minister was picked. The deal has failed to deliver any practical results so far.

The Ansarullah revolutionaries say the Yemeni government has been incapable of properly running the affairs of the country and providing security.

MR/HSN/KA

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk