Aden (AFP)

The tension fell another notch Saturday in Aden (south) with the beginning of withdrawal of separatists of positions taken to the Yemeni government, under the combined pressure of Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, anxious to tie up their alliance against the rebels Houthis.

The headquarters of the government, the Supreme Council of Justice and the Central Bank, as well as the Aden hospital, have been evacuated by separatists, the government's internationally recognized information minister, Muammar al -Iryani.

Preparations are underway for a withdrawal of separatists from the headquarters of the Interior Ministry and the Aden refinery, Iryani added.

The Yemeni alliance between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates was undermined by fighting last week between two armed forces in Aden, one of which is supported by Ryad and the other by Abu Dhabi.

The separatist forces of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), known as "cordon de sécurité", are armed and overseen by the Emirates. They had taken over troops loyal to Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, supported by Saudi Arabia.

The fighting left at least 40 dead and 260 wounded in four days and ended in a defeat of Hadi's forces, whose government shouted at the "coup".

Analysts have seen in this fratricidal struggle evidence of flaws in the coalition and differences between its main members.

If, in Yemen, Saudi Arabia seems anxious to protect itself against the Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, the Emirats appear above all to want to extend their influence in the Gulf of Aden and beyond, around the strategic strait of Bab al-Mandeb.

But the two partners held a summit meeting Monday between King Salman and the strongman of Abu Dhabi, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.

The meeting ended with calls for calm and dialogue, and the two countries recalled that the main goal in Yemen was to counter the influence of Iran, which they believe is through the Houthis. These rebels have held the capital Sanaa since 2014 and have extended their influence to large portions of the north.

- "Unite the forces" -

In its statement on Saturday announcing the start of the withdrawal of separatists, the coalition reiterated the same goal, calling for "joining forces to defeat Iran's destructive plan in Yemen" and not "giving the opportunity terrorist organizations (Al Qaeda and IS) to attack the Yemeni state ".

The announcement comes in the wake of the arrival in Aden on Thursday of a Saudi-Emirati military delegation, coming to try to defuse the extremely tense situation in the large port city of southern Yemen, the provisional seat of the government.

In Aden, AFP journalists saw on Saturday Saudi and Emirati military vehicles protecting the seat of the government, the Supreme Council of Justice and the Central Bank, while noting that the STC forces continued to hold relatives.

The presidential palace has also been under the protection of Saudi forces, according to these journalists.

In its statement, the military coalition led by Ryad talks about the beginning of a withdrawal of separatists, under his supervision, of "positions occupied in recent days" in Aden.

Many other buildings in Aden, including military positions, remain under separatist control.

In January 2018, deadly clashes had already pitted separatist forces against pro-Hadi units. They had ended after a concerted Saudi-Emirati intervention.

South Yemen was an independent state until reunification in 1990. In the south, there is still strong resentment against Yemenis from the North, accused of forcing the unification of the country by force.

© 2019 AFP