Yemeni pro-gov't forces regain control over Shabwa province

Yemeni pro-government forces backed by tribal militiamen regained full control over Yemen's southeastern province of Shabwa after negotiations with leaders of the Shiite Houthi group on Saturday, a military official told Xinhua.

"The Houthi gunmen pulled out of Ataq, capital of oil-rich Shabwa province and handed it peacefully to prominent tribal chiefs and separatist leaders after short negotiations between the two-warring sides ended on Friday night, " the local military official said on condition of anonymity.

Army commanders and fighters for the Popular Resistance, an anti-Houthi southern militia, allowed Houthi gunmen to withdraw from Shabwa along with their armored vehicles and heavy weapons to neighboring province of al-Bayda without any armed confrontations, according to local sources.

The anti-Houthi fighters made significant progress after retaking Shabwa, the fifth southern province that fell in hands of army units and tribal militiamen loyal to Yemen's exiled President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Over three weeks ago, Hadi's forces backed by elite troops and armored vehicles from the UAE and Saudi Arabia launched a number of offensives leading to the liberation of Aden, Lahj, al-Dhalea and Abyan provinces from Houthi's control.

The Arab coalition has been engaged in a war against the Houthis since late March to restore Hadi's legitimacy. The exiled government announced on July 17 that Saudi-backed fighters have taken full control of the southern port city of Aden after days of battles with the Shiite Houthi militia.

Hadi was ousted by the Shiite Houthi group who had controlled the capital Sanaa since last September. He fled to Aden in late February after weeks of house arrest, and has been taking refuge with his cabinet in the Saudi capital of Riyadh since March 26. Endit