Socotra (Debriefer) - The Southern Transitional Council (STC) on Monday took security measures aimed to widen its power on the Yemeni southern governorate of Socotra's sovereign facilities, Yemeni sources said, following the arrest of the port's director loyal to the official government.
Head of the STC office in Socotra, the Salafist Rafat al-Thaqali, issued a number of security directives intended to tighten grip on the island's coasts and assets long sought by the United Arab Emirates, the sources added.
Military patrols and armored vehicles have already been stationed in Socotra port since Sunday, local source said anonymously, while further patrols were deployed in Qulonswa district, where government supporters are hosted and many rallies were staged against the STC.
Late last week, the STC forces vowed to launch a wide arrest campaign targeting opponents, and labeled legitimacy supporters as outlaws, the source told Al-Araby al-Jadeed.
According to the STC website, once he chaired the security committee, Mr. Thaqali issued decrees deploying patrols to control any suspicious moves in the island, hinting at the government supporters.
The measures newly taken by the Emirati-backed forces in Socotra would undermine the relative progress and understanding achieved in applying the Riyadh Agreement after the Saudi pressures on the government to form the new cabinet during the coming days, the sources added.
