Yemen releases 2 separatist leaders to calm south

Yemeni authorities on Thursday released two separatist leaders in response to demands of southerners who have threatened an escalation, activists said.

Authorities freed Qassem Askar, a head of the hardline faction of the separatist Southern Movement, and southern cleric Hussein bin Shouaib “based on orders by the attorney general,” said activist Yasser al-Yafie.

The two were arrested last week in the main southern city of Aden, ahead of violent protests which started on February 21 to mark one year since President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi came to power in a single-candidate election.

Clashes which continued until midday Tuesday left nine people dead, while Hadi has been in the south since Saturday pledging to take measures to end the unrest.

“We met with Hadi yesterday (Wednesday) and he ordered the release of the two leaders to calm the street” in Aden, said Southern Movement activist Lutfi Shatara.

On Tuesday, southern separatists said they were suspending their campaign of “civil disobedience” but threatened an escalation if the authorities failed to meet their demands by March 1.

“If our demands are not met, there will be an overall escalation starting on Saturday across all southern provinces,” another Southern Movement activist, Nizar Haitham, told AFP.