Following recent heated war of words between former Southern leaders residing in some neighboring countries and state officials, In an effort to deprive the southern mobility from outside support, Yemeni authorities have recently requested the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Oman to extradite wanted Yemeni citizens over the recent development in Southern provinces.
The authorities have requested the Kingdom to extradite Former Prime Minister of the United Yemen (1990-1994) Haider Abu Bakr Al-Attas, who is thought to be behind the recent clashes and demonstrations in some Southern provinces and areas. He was also the mastermind of the secession, according to Late Speaker of Parliament Sheikh Abdullah bin Hussein Al-Ahmar.
Similarly, authorities have requested the Sultanate of Oman to hand over Former Vice-President of United Yemen and Former President of what was known to be the “People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen” Ali Salem Al-Beedh.
Official media reported that Yemen has requested the authorities of Saudi Arabia and Oman; both countries have security treaties and cooperation with Yemen, to extradite Al-Attas and Al-Beedh respectively, stressing that they are blamed for practicing aggressive acts against Yemen to undermine its stability and security.

Field developments
A soldier was killed and another ten were injured when an armed group launched an attack on April 27 on a military checkpoint located between Al-Dhale’ and Lahj provinces. Four citizens were also injured in the clashes.
Almotamar.net, the mouthpiece of the ruling General People Congress (GPC), mentioned that a sabotage and armed gang led by Member of Parliament Nasser Al-Khabji, his colleague Salah Al-Shanfarah and Shalal Ali Mana’ had launched the attack on the military checkpoint.
The same source noted that security authorities have launched a wide hunting campaign to arrest the perpetrators and bring them before court to receive fair punishment.
There have also been reported violent clashes in Abyan, which is one of the hottest provinces, despite the fact that it is the homeland of the current Vice-President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi and it has also the largest number of state officials.
Sources also revealed that Al-Mukalla, the capital of Hadramout Province, witnessed violent demonstrations as well as sabotage acts. Eyes witnesses spoke about secessionist tendencies with demonstrators chanting secession slogans and calls for restoring the South Yemen and right to self-determination. Shops and property owned by citizens from Northern provinces were subject to pillage and destruction.
With small exception to Al-Mahrah and Shabwa provinces, there have been reported clashes between security forces and citizens in Lahj on Tuesday, especially in Habil Jabr area.

War of words
Following the recent events in Southern Provinces, several former leaders started launching a war of words targeting the regime in Sana’a and this was faced by a counter-campaign by state officials.
This war was initiated in interviews with Al-Attas by Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel and Arab Struggle (Al-Kifah Al-Arabi) as well as Al-Fadhli’s declaration to join the Southern mobility.
An official source also denounced Tareq Al-Fadhli’s speech in which he addressed the demonstrators in Abyan and hinted that it is so strange that Al-Fadhli is speaking about pillaging lands and property while he illegally exploited wide land plots stretching from Abyan’s Zingubar to Aden’s Al-Alam area.
The same source noted that his defense of unity during the civil war of 1994 was just made for revenging himself from some socialist leaders whom he thinks were behind stripping him of his family’s rank, property, etc.
Reacting to the recent events in Abyan as well as the statements of some leaders of the Southern mobility, Abyan Governor Ahmed Al-Maysari denounced such violent acts and stressed the government will try all those who staged the demonstrations in Abyan, accusing them of inciting sedition.
Al-Maysari maintained that sabotage acts cannot be linked with democracy and freedom of expression and hinted that they are chaotic and criminal acts. He emphasized that those who are behind the events will be held into account.
“We, in the local authority, have been keen about not involving security forces with sabotage elements despite their provocations,” said Al-Maysari.