ADEN, Yemen, Aug 8 (NNN-SABA) – At least two people were killed and 10 others injured, in clashes between presidential guard forces and mourners, in the southern port city of Aden, a medical official said.
A source working at Jamhuria public hospital in Aden said, “Medical teams received two killed mourners and 10 others injured, in the clashes that occurred at a cemetery near the presidential compound.”
Ambulances were dispatched to the clashes site, to transfer a number of injured soldiers as clashes are still ongoing in the area, the medical source said.
Witnesses said, mourners attempted to storm the locations of the presidential guard forces near the palace, sparking clashes in the area of Crater in Aden.
Other security units, loyal to the Southern Transitional Council (STC), guarding the mourners, intervened and opened fire towards the president guard forces.
Following the armed clashes, Hani Bin Buraik, deputy president of the Aden-based STC, delivered a televised speech, calling on the people to march towards the presidential palace and overthrow the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
Sources confirmed that “heavy forces, backed by armoured vehicles, headed towards the palace to kick the government officials, linked to the Muslim Brotherhood Islah party, out of the city.”
Residents said, clashes are still taking place between the two sides in the areas surrounding the Presidential Palace of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of people attended a funeral of army commanders and soldiers, killed last week, in an attack of a ballistic missile, fired by the Houthi rebels against Aden.
Key leaders of the STC attended the funeral at Aden’s neighbourhood of Crater, amid tightened security measure with armoured vehicles deployed in the area.
Munir Abu Yamamah, leader of the first armoured brigade, along with scores of soldiers, were killed in Thursday’s ballistic missile attack, that struck the Jalaa military base in Buraiga district in Aden’s western part.
Mourners were shouting anti-government slogans and threatening to march towards the presidential palace, but the government forces blocked roads leading to the palace, according to local residents.
Considered Yemen’s temporary capital, Aden is where the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has based itself since 2015.– NNN-SABA