SANAA, Yemen, May 19 (UPI) -- Explosions rocked the restive Yemeni seaport of Aden and security officers said the Republican Guards had been dispatched to restore order.
Witnesses told Aden Tomorrow, a local newspaper, that bombs detonated Friday night in Ariesh, a district of Khor Makser, adding that gun battles erupted throughout the neighborhood. "The explosions were so violent some windows were shattered," one said.
Aden Tomorrow reported that Defense Ministry officials could not say whether the clashes were linked to al-Qaida fighters or southern secessionist militants, only saying an investigation had been launched.
Al-Harak, the Southern Secessionist Movement, has escalated its calls for secession since the return of its leader Mohammed Ali Ahmed after 15 years in exile.
