Fierce clashes broke out early Friday in the southern Iraqi city of Aden between security forces and the southern transitional council, backed by the United Arab Emirates, and Yemeni government forces.

Al-Jazeera sources said that five militants of the UAE-backed forces were killed, while three members of the Yemeni presidential protection forces of the government were killed. The deteriorating situation has diverted flights from Aden airport to Sayun airport in Hadramout.

Local sources said that the Yemeni-backed security belt forces withdrew from the perimeter of the Aden refineries after clashes with forces from the facilities guards. The sources attributed these clashes to the attempt of the security belt forces to control the refineries.

Calls to stop fighting
In the meantime, the Yemeni government called on Saudi Arabia and the UAE to put urgent pressure on the Transitional Council to stop its military movements in Aden.

In a statement published by the official news agency Saba, the government blamed the transitional council for the armed escalation in Aden and threatened the security and safety of citizens.

She considered that the actions of the Transitional Council - the use of heavy weapons and storming of state institutions - rejected, stressing that the army and security are committed to maintaining state institutions and military camps.

The National Alliance of Yemeni political parties and forces called on the political leadership and the government to work to end the security problem at its roots, unite all security agencies and military units, and rebuild them on a national basis, under the authority of the legitimate government.

The coalition deplored the actions of elements outside the regime against citizens of the northern governorates, assault on their property and forced displacement.

He said that the basis of the security problem in the liberated areas is the presence of armed formations outside the control of the ministries of defense and interior.

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International concern
With regard to international reactions, the United States expressed deep concern at the outbreak of violence and confrontations in Aden and called on all parties to refrain from escalation and further bloodshed.

In a written statement, the US State Department called for resolving differences through dialogue and warned that inciting further divisions and violence would increase the suffering of the Yemeni people and prolong the conflict. The dialogue is the only way to achieve a stable, united and prosperous Yemen.

British Foreign Secretary Dominique Rappe also expressed grave concern over the escalation of violence in Aden, and the Foreign Office, in a tweet on Twitter, called on all parties to stop fighting and urgently engage in talks to address complaints.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric has expressed serious concern about the ongoing violence in Aden.

Dujarric called on all parties to commit to the political process and to ensure that military activities do not adversely affect UN humanitarian operations in Yemen.