One killed, four injured in clashes amid Yemen presidential vote

Sana’a: Clashes between Yemen security forces and armed men loyal to the separatist Southern Movement broke out in many southern cities as thousands of Yemenis stood in queues outside polling stations to vote for a new president.

A soldier was killed in the port southern city of Mukalla as police chased armed men who tried to prevent voters from casting their ballots.

A witness from the city of Aden told Gulf News on Tuesday that the movement’s activists attacked polling stations in the morning. At least four people were injured in the clashes.

Also, heavy gun fire blared from the coastal city of Mukalla, the stronghold of the separatists, which kept people indoors. A strike in the southern cities in place, bringing businesses to halt.

On Monday, a soldier was killed and at least a dozen injured as the southern movement organised rallies to disturb election.

In the capital and other cities, the election process started without a hitch since the early hours of Tuesday as thousands of people were seen pouring the polling stations.

The sole presidential candidate, Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi, cast his vote in the capital. Hadi is expected to replace Yemen’s long-serving president Ali Abduallah Saleh.