Tribal militia control key institutions in southern Yemen

Hundreds of tribal militiamen backed by secessionists took control of some military and government institutions in Yemen's southern port city of Aden on Monday, a government official told Xinhua.

"The tribal militia took control of key government and security sites in Aden after armed clashes with forces loyal to the Shiite Houthi group," the local government official said on condition of anonymity.

"The militia backed by secessionists seized the electricity power station, the international airport, radio and TV stations, police headquarters and several government buildings across Aden," the government source said.

A local military official confirmed to Xinhua about the clashes, saying that at least five security members were killed and dozens of others were seized by militants during the fighting in Aden, the country's second largest city.

In the neighboring Abyan province, tribal militiamen took control of the main camp of Central Security Forces on Monday morning, without resistance, according to local sources.

A leader of the tribal fighters told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that "Southerners are now on the offensive taking over bases and brigades before the army hands them over to Houthi militia or the al-Qaida terrorist group."

"All the tribes in Shabwa, Abyan and Hadramout provinces are now on high alert to confront any Houthi intrusion into the south," the tribal source said.

He added that "the tribesmen will not let the Houthis to take control of any province in southern Yemen and vowed to fight back with all the power they have."

Earlier this month, leaders of the military and local authorities in Yemen's southern provinces announced their rejection of any orders coming from the country's capital Sanaa after the Shiite Houthi group issued a "constitution declaration" to dissolve the parliament and form a new government.

The impoverished Arab country has seen persistent unrest since 2011 when mass protests forced former President Ali Abdullash Saleh to step down. President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi took over power in 2012, but submitted resignation to the parliament on Jan. 22 amid standoff with the Houthi group.

Yemen has since been facing growing secessionism and challenges from al-Qaida networks in the south and armed groups, including the powerful Houthi, in the north. Enditem