Two killed in clashes with separatists in south Yemen - Summary

Sana'a, Yemen - At least two people were killed and 16 injured in clashes between police and separatist protesters in southern Yemen on Thursday, police and witnesses said. Witnesses said one protester was killed and four injured in clashes in Dhalea, about 300 kilometers south of Sana'a. They said three policemen were injured after armed separatists opened fire at police.

Another protester was killed and seven injured in Tour al-Baha city of the neighboring Lahj province. Police said three activists were arrested in Tour al-Baha.

Police fired in the air to disperse dozens of armed protesters who tried to storm a local government building in Tour al-Baha.

In the southern city of Taiz, two people were injured when police tried to break up a rally organized by the opposition to show support to the southern separatist movement.

The opposition said 22 of its supporters were arrested by police in Taiz.

Around 5,000 people attended a sit-in in Sana'a called by the main opposition parties to denounce the violence in the south.

Violence has been on the rise in southern cities in recent months where disgruntled southerners increasingly take to the streets to support calls by the Southern Movement to split the once independent south from a united Yemen.

North and South Yemen were united in 1990, but separatist groups in the south claim that the central government in Sana'a neglect the people in the south and discriminate against them.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/313623,two-killed-in-clashes-with-separatists-in-south-yemen--summary.html.