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| Yemen war: Separatists declare autonomous rule in south | Yemen war: Separatists declare autonomous rule in south |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Separatists in southern Yemen have declared self-rule, breaking a peace deal signed in November with the internationally recognised government. | Separatists in southern Yemen have declared self-rule, breaking a peace deal signed in November with the internationally recognised government. |
| The Aden-based Southern Transitional Council (STC) declared a state of emergency, saying it would govern the port city and other southern provinces. | The Aden-based Southern Transitional Council (STC) declared a state of emergency, saying it would govern the port city and other southern provinces. |
| The STC is supported by the United Arab Emirates. | The STC is supported by the United Arab Emirates. |
| The Saudi-backed Yemeni government warned of "dangerous and catastrophic consequences". | The Saudi-backed Yemeni government warned of "dangerous and catastrophic consequences". |
| "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," Foreign Minister Mohammed Al-Hadhrami said in a statement. | "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," Foreign Minister Mohammed Al-Hadhrami said in a statement. |
| The two sides signed a power-sharing deal that was described by the UN as an important step towards ending Yemen's civil war. | The two sides signed a power-sharing deal that was described by the UN as an important step towards ending Yemen's civil war. |
| A Saudi-led coalition launched a military intervention in support of the Yemeni government in 2015, after Houthi rebels seized the capital Sanaa. The UAE is a member of the coalition but supports the southern separatists. | A Saudi-led coalition launched a military intervention in support of the Yemeni government in 2015, after Houthi rebels seized the capital Sanaa. The UAE is a member of the coalition but supports the southern separatists. |
| In August last year, the STC took over the government's temporary capital, Aden, after accusing the administration of mismanagement. | In August last year, the STC took over the government's temporary capital, Aden, after accusing the administration of mismanagement. |
| Why is there a war in Yemen? | |
| Yemen has been devastated by a conflict that escalated in March 2015, when the Houthis seized control of much of the west of the country and forced President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to flee abroad. | |
| Alarmed by the rise of a group they believed to be backed militarily by Iran, Saudi Arabia and eight other Arab states began a campaign aimed at restoring Mr Hadi's government. | |
| At the start of the war, Saudi officials forecast that it would last only a few weeks. But five years of military stalemate have followed. | |
| The UN has verified the deaths of at least 7,500 civilians, with most caused by coalition air strikes. But a monitoring group has estimated that the fighting has killed 112,000 people, including 12,600 civilians. | |
| The fighting and blockade have also triggered the world's worst humanitarian crisis. | |
| Some 24 million people - 80% of the population - need humanitarian assistance, and almost 10 million are considered "one step away from famine". |