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Five killed in protest in Yemen

* Government closes Iran-sponsored hospital, clinic in Sanaa

SANAA: Five Yemenis died when security forces clashed with southern separatists on Wednesday, as southerners began more protests against a government already facing a revolt in the north that has drawn in Saudi Arabia.

Witnesses said security forces tried to break up a demonstration by around 1,000 southerners in the city of Ataq in Shabwa province after a rally in favour of the former south Yemeni state that united with Sanaa in 1990. They said three protesters and two members of security forces died when shooting broke out, while 10 protesters were wounded. South Yemen has seen a series of such incidents this year as southerners complain about marginalisation, but this was the first time Shabwa saw clashes.

Yemen faces a revolt by Huthi rebels in the north while Al Qaeda militants have regrouped on Yemeni soil and carried out attacks in the last two years. In Sanaa, a group of 200 chanted slogans such as “No to the plot of Persian expansion” and “Yemen will remain free and independent” and called for the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador over alleged backing for the northern rebels.

Though the protest was organised by a non-governmental group, such events are unlikely to take place without official sanction. Yemen accuses Iranian figures of funding the rebels - known as the Huthis - who have been locked in battle with government forces in north Yemen since August. But the government has stopped short of accusing Iran’s government of backing them and Iran has denied any involvement.

Hospital closed: Yemen said on Wednesday it has ordered the closure of the Iranian hospital and clinic in Sanaa due to what it said was Iran’s support of the facilities and lack of transparency in their accounts. Both facilities are run by the Iranian Red Crescent. “The interior ministry has decided to close the Iranian clinic and hospital because of lack of transparency of their accounts and... Iranian financial support to these two institutions,” said a ministry statement.

The hospital, a five-storey building which is staffed by 120 employees including eight Iranians, has been operating in the Yemeni capital for four years, while the clinic has existed for 15 years. The decision to close them came as a demonstration was set to be staged on Wednesday outside the Iranian embassy to protest against “foreign interference,” state media said. agencies

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