Thousands rally in southern Yemen to call for secession

Thousands of pro-secession protesters took to the streets of Aden, southern Yemen on Saturday to mark the 46th anniversary of independence from British occupation and demand autonomy from the north. The separatist demonstrators across the southern areas gathered in Aden's central Parade Square, waving flags of the former South Yemen and carrying banners with pro-independence slogans. Omar Ahmed, a leader of the separatist Southern Movement, told Xinhua that "the southern people confirm their rejection of the national dialogue that is taking place in the capital Sanaa." On Wednesday, Yemen's southern separatist movement withdrew from the ongoing national dialogue after failing to reach a political solution. Yemeni factions started the comprehensive reconciliation dialogue in March as part of a power transition launched after the 2011 mass protests. The southern representatives boycotted the dialogue in August, demanding President Hadi to allow discussions on their right of self-determination. They then returned to the talks in September mediated by the United Nations envoy Jamal bin Omar. The southerners complained of being economically and politically marginalized and discriminated against since the northern troops won a four-month civil war.