The security authorities said on Tuesday they had arrested a terrorist suspect in the Lowder district, Abyan, with documents revealing there was cooperation between Al-Qaeda and the southern separatist movement, Harak.

Muhammad Ahmed Al-Mansoub was arrested on Monday, they said, adding that the suspect is from Dhale and he was wanted for terrorist and criminal charges including assassinating policemen.

Al-Mansoub is being investigated over all his acts, they concluded.

Many people including soldiers and civilians were killed in the fierce clashes between the security forces and suspected Al-Qaeda militants in the district last month.

The confrontations came as rioting continues to shake the south amid separation bids and deadly Al-Qaeda attacks against security and intelligence headquarters and assassinations of officers.