UAE-backed group vows to overthrow Yemen govt
A group of separatists in southern Yemen, backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have declared a state of emergency in the port city of Aden and vowed to overthrow the country's internationally recognised government within the next week.
Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the leader of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), said Yemen's parliament would be barred from convening in Aden or anywhere else in southern Yemen unless President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi replaced Prime Minister Ahmed bin Daghr and his entire cabinet.
Speaking at a meeting on Sunday, al-Zubaidi accused Hadi's government of "rampant corruption" and of "waging a misinformation campaign against the southern leaders using state funds".
"The Southern Resistance Forces (SRF) declare a state of emergency in Aden and announce that it has begun the process of overthrowing the legitimate government and replacing it with a cabinet of technocrats," a statement issued by the STC said.
The SRF, an armed group that has clashed with forces loyal to Hadi for control of strategic areas including Aden airport, will "become the core of a new force that will rebuild South Yemen's security and military institutions," the statement added.
Several commanders from security forces set up by the UAE attended the meeting and declared their support, reported Aljazeera Online.
A Saudi-led military coalition yesterday announced $1.5 billion in new humanitarian aid for Yemen, after the UN made what it called a record appeal for assistance for the war-ravaged country. Russia yesterday called for an end to fighting in Yemen, saying there could be no military solution to the nearly four-year war between Huthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government.
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