Sources told Al Jazeera that two people were killed and others wounded by security forces' bullets in the city of Crater, Aden governorate, southern Yemen, while the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council declared a state of emergency in the south.

Demonstrations renewed on Wednesday evening in the city in protest against the deteriorating living conditions and services. The protesters closed a number of main streets and roads in the city, and forced the owners of money exchange shops to close, accusing them of laundering money and destroying the local currency.

Protests also continued in several districts in Aden governorate, including the Mansoura district, where witnesses said protesters set fire to tires in an attempt to paralyze traffic on main roads amid sporadic shooting.

In the city of Mukalla, Hadramout Governorate, sources told Al Jazeera that one person was killed and four others were wounded by security forces' bullets.


army intervention

The Yemeni army also dispersed protesters in the city of Tarim in the governorate who tried to block an international road linking Yemen with the Sultanate of Oman, denouncing the deteriorating living conditions.

Residents of Aden complain about the high cost of living, high prices and power cuts, noting that the internationally recognized government has not taken any solutions.

The protesters blocked roads in the city and burned tires.

Demonstrations took place in other cities of the province, including the city of Ash Shihr.

For his part, Hadhramaut Governor Faraj Al-Bahsani confirmed to AFP that the governorate "is in the process of providing 60 megawatts of electricity with Emirati support," stressing, "We reject sabotage and blocking streets."

case of emergency

Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, head of the UAE-backed Yemeni Transitional Council, declared a state of emergency in the southern governorates of Yemen.

Al-Zubaidi called on the security not to tolerate what he called the intrusive elements in the Aden protests.

And he warned, "against using protests for non-national goals and political calculations, or creating chaos and sabotage."


don't relent

For its part, the Security Committee in Shabwa Governorate (southern Yemen) said that it will not tolerate anyone who seeks to threaten security and peace, noting - in a statement - that it will deal firmly with the schemes that it described as criminal, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The committee made it clear that it stood before what it called the calls for violence and chaos by the Transitional Council, which coincide with the Houthi movements to destabilize the security and stability of the governorate.

And she warned against using what she described as false pacifism to pass criminal schemes, holding the Transitional Council responsible for those calls and their results.

exchange strike

The "Exchangers Association" in Aden had announced a comprehensive strike, starting from Wednesday, in protest against the collapse of the currency, which witnessed a record decline.

The association said in a statement, "After we have exhausted all means and capabilities to stop the currency's collapse, we are directing all exchange companies, institutions and facilities in all governorates to go on a comprehensive strike starting today."

On Tuesday evening, the price of one dollar reached more than 1,100 riyals, after it was at the beginning of the year 2015 equal to only 215 Yemeni riyals, and 1050 riyals in transactions last week.