Aden (AFP)
Thousands of Yemenis on Thursday expressed their support for the separatists of the Southern Transitional Council (TCC) who are in open conflict with the government of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, recognized by the international community.
The demonstrators gathered in Khor Maksar, in the center of Aden City, waving flags of former South Yemen, independent until 1990, and chanting slogans supporting the JTS.
The protesters, including some from other southern regions, called for "the revolution" and unfurled banners supporting the "STC leadership" or claiming "southern love unites us".
Representatives of civil society and pro-STC unions welcomed in a statement last Saturday's take by the fighters of the "Cordon of Security" many positions of pro-Hadi units in Aden, as well as the presidential palace and the seat of the government, after deadly fighting.
The clashes last week between units loyal to President Hadi, supported at arm's length by Saudi Arabia, fighters of the force called "Cordon security", formed by the United Arab Emirates that support the STC.
All, however, are united in the north of the country in the war against the Houthi rebels, who seized nearly five years ago from the capital Sanaa and large portions of the north. Aden has since become the temporary headquarters of the Hadi government.
The communique also called for "entrusting the southern administration to the southerners" as opposed to Yemenis from the north, often accused of forcing the unification of the two Yemen by force and crushing four years later an attempt to secession.
The signatories expressed their support for the Saudi proposal for talks between the protagonists of the Aden crisis.
But the Hadi government on Wednesday rejected any negotiations without the withdrawal of separatists from positions taken in Aden.
© 2019 AFP