By: Fuad Mus'ed
For the Yemen Times
Published:20-05-2010
LAHJ, May 19 - Fierce clashes between an armed group and security forces caused five casualties last Monday in Al-Habeelain, Lahj governorate, according to local sources.
A woman, a child and two from the armed group were among the injured.
This incident is one of several recent clashes in Yemen's southern governorates between members of the secessionist Southern Movement and the government.
The deputy governor of Lahj governorate, Qasem Abdulrahman, accused members of the Southern Movement of stealing an ambulance from the area between Al-Habeelain and Halmeen in Lahj.
He added that he and his men were authorized to meet military leaders and locals in Radfan and to arrest those who have killed people and blocked roads.
In a similar event, in Sanah, Al-Dhale', an armed group attacked the head of the security forces on Tuesday and tried to assassinate him.
However, locals denied this and said that the clash was because the latter had ordered soldiers to disarm people in Sanah district. Three people were injured, among them the chief of police.
Locals said that they heard a bombing on Tuesday evening followed by an intensive exchange of fire.
On Tuesday evening, security sources said that an unknown man threw a grenade in front of the gate of the Al-Dhale' police office. The guards fired at the man who was on a motorcycle. But they could not catch him.
On Wednesday evening last week, confrontations between security forces and locals took place as some soldiers were raising the flag in Dar Al-Hait, Al-Dhale'. No causalities were reported.
The road between Al-Dhale' and Aden is still closed because security personnel are looking for armed suspects after the attack on the president's convoy, according to political observers.
The Ministry of the Interior, on its website, said that it will not be tolerant with anyone sparking unrest and violence in the south. It also called on the police to do their duty in a serious fashion.
In 2007, when the Southern Movement emerged, its demands were equal citizenship for southerners and for more rights for army retirees. However, these demands have recently evolved into calls for secession from the central state in Sana'a.
Since unrest began in the south in 2007, over 150 people have been killed and over 500 injured during demonstrations organized by the movement and clashes between security forces and the movement's supporters.