ADEN: At least 12 people have been killed and more than 130 wounded in Yemen’s coastal city of Aden in clashes between government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, and southern separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Yemeni Health Ministry said at least four people were killed on Monday and eight on Sunday after the military wing of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a political movement demanding secession for southern Yemen, seized control of government headquarters.
Residents told Al Jazeera that in Aden’s districts of Khormaksar and Dar Saad, the two sides exchanged heavy gunfire throughout the day, as the streets lay empty of traffic and shops and schools remained closed.
One eyewitness reported a “fierce” street battle between fighters loyal to the STC and Yemeni forces, causing panic among civilians.
Meanwhile, the international aid organisation Oxfam said the violence had forced it to close its offices.
Tension has been running high in Aden since the STC gave President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government an ultimatum last week, to either dismiss Prime Minister Ahmed bin Daghr and his cabinet, or face an overthrow.
Hadi’s government refused to be coerced and subsequently banned public gatherings ahead of Sunday’s deadline.
