Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council agrees for ceasefire in Aden

The Southern Transitional Council forces began their withdrawal from positions under their control in Yemen’s Aden, the Arab Coalition said on Sunday.

The coalition welcomes the move and intends to monitor the withdrawal, a coalition source said.

Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council agreed on Sunday to the Arab coalition’s calls for an immediate ceasefire in Aden, seat of the internationally recognized government, they said in a statement.

“The spokesman of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) confirmed its adherence to the ceasefire called for by the leadership of the coalition,” the statement said.

Earlier, the Yemeni government accused the Southern Transitional Council of staging an attempted coup in Aden after their fighters took over all military camps in the southern port city.

Call for immediate ceasefire

The Arab coalition supporting the legitimate government in Yemen had called for an immediate ceasefire in Aden, the Saudi Press Aagency (SPA) quoted the coalition’s spokesman as saying.

“The coalition calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Yemeni temporary capital Aden starting from 1 a.m. on Sunday (2200 GMT on Saturday), and asserts that it will use military force against anyone who violates it,” the spokesman said.

The coalition also called on all military groups to immediately return to their positions and retreat from areas that have been seized during the past few days.

Saudi Arabia calls for ‘urgent meeting’

The Saudi foreign ministry on Saturday issued a statement calling an “urgent meeting” between the warring parties in Aden following fierce clashes.

“Saudi Arabia is following with great concern the developments in the interim Yemeni capital,” the Saudi foreign ministry said on Twitter.

“The kingdom invites the government of Yemen and all parties to the conflict in Aden to hold an urgent meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss their differences, to give a chance to wisdom and dialogue, to renounce divisions, to end strife and unite.”

“The Kingdom’s stance in support of the legitimate government and the unity and stability of Yemen remains unchanged,” tweeted Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman.