Two people were killed and ten others were wounded on Thursday after police broke up rallies in Dhale and Lahj in south Yemen.

6 policemen were among the injured. Hundreds of people gathered early today to condemn militarizing the normal life in the two provinces, worst hit by violence in recent years.

According to local sources in Dhale Abdul Hakim Muhsen Ubadi, 35, was shot by police and the one killed in Lahj was identified as Falah Qayed Yusuf. The casualties took place after the authorities warned against unauthorized demonstrations toughing security measures in the two cities.

Police fired at demonstrators after they lifted the flag of the former Democratic people's Republic in the south and chanted anti-unity slogans, the sources said.

Further military reinforcements have arrived in the district of Tour Al-Baha, Lahj, to deal with the rallies organized by the secessionist movement.

In recent weeks, further measures were taken in Dhale and Lahj including imposing security cordons around some districts suspected of being sheltering outlaws and destructive elements and sometimes declaring a state of emergency in others.

The measures came as protests by the movement continued to sweep the south and followed several ambushes targeting policemen and officials as well as stepped up destructive acts by separatists who attacked the people and burned their shops.

Also, the Ministry of Communication ordered few days ago to the cell phone companies in the two cities to cut their services.