Security Official Killed in Southern Yemen, al-Qaida Blamed

February 9, 2012

A senior Yemeni security official was shot dead Thursday evening in Yemen's southern restive province of Lahj in an attack probably carried out by al-Qaida militants, a provincial police official told Xinhua.

"Major Alkadr al-Humaidy, head of the Criminal Investigation Department in al-Houta, the capital city of Lahj, was gunned down Thursday evening by motorcycle(-riding) gunmen when he was on his way home on the outskirts of the city," the official said on condition of anonymity.

"Initial investigations showed that the attack bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida militants," he said.

Several members of the state security and intelligence units in a number of southern provinces have been killed over the past few months in similar attacks that were probably carried out by the Yemen-based regional terrorist network, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

The terrorist group has stepped up attacks on the government security personnel and seized several cities in the country's lawless southern regions, where the central government's control has been weakened by one-year protests against the 33-year rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The continued attacks showed the country's fragile security situation just less than two weeks ahead of the presidential election that aimed at ending the months-long unrest.

Earlier this week, Yemen's acting President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi launched his advertising campaign as the sole presidential candidate for the Feb. 21 polls, under a UN-backed power transfer deal brokered by neighboring oil-rich Gulf countries to end months of protests.

In a meeting with foreign diplomats to Yemen on Wednesday, Hadi reaffirmed his government's position towards combating terrorism. "We will not negotiate or seek compromise with terrorist groups... and our battles will continue to eliminate them with all possible ways," he was quoted by official Saba news agency as saying.

Two Separatists Killed in Anti-election Protest in Southern Yemen

February 9, 2012

At least two protesters were killed Thursday in Yemen's southern province of al-Dhalee in clashes between security forces and hundreds of separatists who called for boycotting the upcoming presidential elections, a Yemeni security official and witnesses said.

The clashes broke out when the demonstration of the separatist Southern Movement turned into riot as dozens of protesters surrounded the provincial office of the election committee and attempted to break into it, a security official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Witnesses said security forces opened fire to foil the attack on the election committee's office and its employees, killing two protesters identified as Abdulsalam Ahmed and Jiyad Motahar.

Several other pro-separatism protesters were wounded, they said.

Al-Dhalee, some 245 km south of the capital Sanaa, is a key stronghold of the Southern Movement which seeks to end north-south union deal signed in 1990 and restore the south state after they accused northerners of seizing their oil resources and discriminating against the southerners.

Last week, the movement's leaders called for their followers to "burn voting cards and boycott the presidential elections in non- violent protests."

The riot showed the country's fragile security situation just less than two weeks ahead of the elections that would end the rule of outgoing President Ali Abduallah Saleh who is currently in the United States for medical treatment.

On Tuesday, Yemen's acting President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi launched his advertising campaign as the sole presidential candidate for the Feb. 21 polls, under a UN-backed power transfer deal brokered by neighboring oil-rich Gulf countries to end months of deadly protests.

Hadi pledged to launch national dialogue involving all Yemeni political forces, including the southern separatist group, after he takes power. He said the talks would be based on openness, equity and mutual respect.