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Authorities impose curfew in Yemen's Aden amid tension

Xinhua, January 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

Security authorities on Monday imposed a renewable curfew in Yemen's southern port city of Aden after armed confrontations with militants over the control of the city's main seaport, a security official told Xinhua.

The move, according to officials of the Supreme Security Committee of Aden province, was taken as a precaution to maintain law and order and confront armed groups that seek to undermine stability in the city.

"After an emergency meeting chaired by Aden's governor, Maj. Gen. Aidarous Zubaidi, we have imposed a daily renewable curfew in Aden and it will come into force today at 8 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. local time, " the local security source said on condition of anonymity.

The curfew came after armed groups suspected of links to the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch attempted to deploy around Aden's seaport.

On Sunday, armed confrontations took place between pro-government forces and unknown armed groups near Aden's seaport and other institutions, leaving at least 13 people dead.

The port city of Aden, Yemen's temporary capital, has been witnessing a state of chaos and lawlessness over the past few months, which resulted in the assassination of Aden's governor several security officers and judges.

Yemen, an impoverished Arab country, has been gripped by one of the most active regional al-Qaida insurgencies in the Middle East and the affiliate of the Islamic State.

Security situation in the country has deteriorated since March when war broke out between the Shiite Houthi group, supported by former President Ali Abdullash Saleh, and the government backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition.

More than 6,000 people have been killed in ground battles and air strikes since then, half of them civilians. Endit