ADEN (Reuters) – Yemen’s separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) on Sunday announced it would establish a self-ruled administration in the regions under their control, which the internationally recognized Saudi-backed government said would have “catastrophic consequences” for a November peace deal.
Under a deal to end the power struggle in south Yemen agreed in Riyadh, the STC and other southerners were supposed to join a new national cabinet and place all forces under control of the internationally recognized government. The STC is supported by the United Arab Emirates.
“The announcement by the so-called transitional council of its intention to establish a southern administration is a resumption of its armed insurgency… and an announcement of its rejection and complete withdrawal from the Riyadh agreement,” Yemen’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Twitter.
“The so-called transitional council will bear alone the dangerous and catastrophic consequences for such an announcement,” it said.
(Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari and Mohammed Mukhashef, writing by Dahlia Nehme; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)
