Northern Yemen attacks Aden after UN cease-fire order
Northern Yemen attacks Aden after UN cease-fire order
ADEN (Reuter): A northern Yemeni missile attack killed or wounded about 20 people, including worshipers at dawn prayers, in the secessionist stronghold Aden yesterday just hours after the United Nations called for a cease-fire, security and hospital sources said.
Breakaway southern Yemen, which seceded from a four-year merger with the north on May 21, promptly called on the UN Security Council to force the northerners to obey the call for a cease-fire in their month-long war.
The northern Yemeni cabinet was summoned to an emergency meeting on Thursday, apparently to discuss how to react to the Security Council resolution.
On the ground Yemenis were still being hurt.
Security sources said Aden's defenders shot down a missile fired by northern forces.
Hospital officials said about 15 men praying at a mosque were wounded by shrapnel from the downed missile. Five other people were wounded nearby, they said.
Southern vice-president Abdel-Rahman Ali al-Jifri told Reuters some worshipers were killed but he did not have an exact toll. Two other missiles were fired but landed on an island and in the sea, he added.
About 50 angry residents shouted slogans denouncing northern President Ali Abdullah Saleh. "Saleh, you murderer," they shouted. "Long live Aden."
Pools of blood stained the open courtyard at the mosque, Reuter photographer Marwan Naamani said.
Artillery fire boomed from at least one front line near the port city and ambulances rushed through the streets shortly after the early morning missile attack lit up the dark sky.
The rival forces went to war on May 4 after a long dispute between their leaders following the union of the former North and South Yemen in 1990.
Internal conflict
The northern government in Sanaa opposes UN involvement in the war, saying it is an internal conflict between the legitimate government and southern rebels. It refuses to negotiate on an equal footing with the south.
Immediately after the Security Council resolution the southern Yemenis sent a message to UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros- Ghali welcoming and accepting the cease-fire.
But after the missile attack they said they would have to defend themselves and asked the Security Council to enforce the resolution.
"At the time that we abided by the cease-fire, the regime in Sanaa took advantage of the situation and launched attacks on all fronts," said a statement issued in the name of the south's five- man presidential council.
"The fierce fighting is still raging and we shall fight back in defense of our country and our people."
Southern leaders have pinned their hopes on UN action to stop the war, in which the north has held the upper hand.
The UN resolution called for an immediate return to talks and a halt to the supply of arms that might fuel the conflict.
It asked Boutros-Ghali to send a mission to assess prospects for dialog. Jifri said the south welcomed the fact-finding mission.