Defence Minister headed on Saturday an expanded meeting in Yemen's southern Lahj province that was attended by Lahj governor, local officials and sheikhs in Radfan town.

The topics discussed at the meeting and its outcomes remained unclear.

The meeting coincided with a huge demonstration when thousands of the people in the four districts of the town took to the streets to condemn the murder of a saboteur who was killed in clashes with the army on Thursday.

During 'the demonstration of anger', demonstrators carried the photo of Abbas Tanbah, who the authorities said was one of the most wanted saboteurs in the town.

They also carried the flag of the former southern republic and chanted anti-government slogans.

We will go head for the sake of what Tanbah and other peaceful struggle victims had died, they said. No incidents were reported.

They marched to downtown Al-Habilain where a festival was held and speeches called for all southerners to align and continue their peaceful struggle for independence.

Military vehicles were seen and troops deployed early today in Al-Habilain to prevent possibly violence amid continuous protests that have been sweeping the south and usually turning violent.