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SAN'A, Yemen - Three protesters were killed Thursday in clashes with security forces during anti-government demonstrations in southern Yemen, where a separatist movement has triggered a crackdown, officials said.
South and North Yemen merged in 1990 but southerners say they are marginalized and separatist calls remain prevalent. The south has seen several bouts of violence since the unification.
Thursdays violence took place in the towns of al-Baaha and Dhali'a.
In response, armed tribesmen in al-Baaha detained 13 security men. A tribal chief, speaking on condition of anonymity because he feared government reprisal, said they would be released only after the government brought to justice the security men who fired on demonstrators.
The deputy governor of the surrounding Lahij province, Yasser al-Yamani, accused "outlaw elements" of being behind the disturbances and said the government was determined to go on with its security measures.
Thousands of opposition members also demonstrated in the capital, San'a, and other cities Thursday in a show of support for the separatist movement.
About 250 southern activists have been arrested this week in a government crackdown, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
