Yemen forces withdraw from southern region

Yemeni security forces pulled out of a region in the south of the country on Tuesday as part of a peace deal between the US-backed government and rebels.

Government security forces left the district of Mansoura in Aden Province after a month of clashes with armed militants that have left 16 dead and tens of people injured on both sides.

A Yemeni source said earlier that this move came after "the recommendations of a parliamentary committee approved the withdrawal from Mansoura in exchange for an end to the violence by the armed militia."

Mansoura was a focal point for pro-democracy protests against the former regime of Ali Abdullah Saleh, which triggered outbreaks of violence. State security forces took control of area about a month ago.

The move came as part of a larger plan to reassert government control over wide swathes of land that had fallen beyond the government's reach during the popular uprising over the past year and a half.

The southern provinces, which were only unified with the north of Yemen in 1990, have witnessed regular protest movements demanding secession from the north.

(UPI, Al-Akhbar)