October 14, 2017•Update: October 15, 2017
ADEN, Yemen
Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr on Saturday warned against seizing power by force in Aden, the government’s temporary seat in southern Yemen.
"Beware of the Republic’s fall or thinking about taking power by force in Aden like what the Houthis did in Sanaa," Bin Dagher said during a military parade in Aden.
He urged all sides to put aside their differences and unite against Houthi rebels, who overran much of the country in 2014 and forced the government to flee to Eden.
The warning comes ahead of a planned rally on Saturday by the so-called "Southern Transition Council" that demands the separation of southern Yemen from the north.
The rally coincides with the 54th anniversary of the revolution against the British occupation of southern Yemen on October 14, 1963.
Aden has seen rising tension in recent weeks with the Southern Transitional Council accusing the Yemeni government of failing to assume its duties.
In 2015, Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies began a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi military gains in Yemen.
According to UN figures, more than 10,000 people -- including numerous civilians -- have been killed as a direct result of the conflict.
Reporting by Shukri Hussein:Writing by Mahmoud Barakat
