Local Editor
The Saudis are refusing to meet with the newly formed UAE-backed “Southern Transitional Council” headed by Ali Aidarous Al-Zubaidi for the fourth day running, according to a report by Arabi21.
Saudi Arabia’s refusal to meet with the secessionists comes following reports that Al-Zubaidi, a former governor in Aden fired by Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, travelled to Saudi Arabia for diplomatic talks with the Arab monarchy.
The so-called Southern Transitional Council is a secessionist movement that seeks to breakaway from Yemen and declare an independent state that used to exist up until forces from North Yemen, under ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh, defeated the southern socialists and united the country in 1994.
Saudi Arabia is ignoring the political representatives of the Council, as it is opposed to its formation. Amid a growing rift within the Saudi-led coalition Riyadh is continuing to back Hadi despite his fallout with the Emirati crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed who is backing Al-Zubaidi.
Saudi Arabia has been leading a destructive military campaign against Yemen since March 2015 to reinstate Hadi.
The campaign has devastated the country’s infrastructure killing over 12,000 people.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by Website Team
