ADEN (Debriefer)--The president of the southern transitional council Aidarous Al-Zubaidi on Wednesday described the forces of Yemen's internationally recognised government as occupation militias, in new escalation that comes as Saudi Arabia is seeking to heel the rift between the two sides.
In a speech on the 7th of July which marks the anniversary of the victory against the separation forces in 1994, he said the council will go ahead to restore the southern state.
The north and south of Yemen reunited in 1990.
He vowed to liberate other southern regions that are still under occupation in the provinces of Hadhramout, Shabwa and Mahrah.
The government and the UAE-backed council signed the Riyadh agreement in 2019 after the council declared war against the government forces and took over the interim capital Aden.
Al-Zubaidi's remarks came two days after the council's delegation left Riyadh, and suspended participation in months-long Saudi-sponsored talks with the government on the agreement.
Fans of the council held protests in some southern regions today and chanted anti-government and pro-secession slogans.
