Tariq Al-Fadhli, a prominent leader in the secessionist movement (Al-Hirak) in south Yemen announced on Wednesday that the movement will start as from next Saturday a new phase of revolt that he described as 'stone uprising'.
On February 20, we will launch further protests, civil disobedience and a stone uprising and all these will be aimed at escalating our struggle to separate from the north, he said.
And next Monday the southern provinces will see civil disobedience, with only limited movement left to demand the release of those who were arrested in connection with Al-Hirak, he said.
Al-Fadhli, who was a prominent Jihadi leader, affirmed they remain acting with peaceful option, distancing the movement from violence and deadly acts.
In the few recent years, rioting and protests that hit the south swerved to separation bids and deadly clashes, with demonstrators chanting anti-unity slogans, carrying the flag of former Democratic People's Republic in the south and clashing with police with arms. Many protestors were reported dead and other injured.
Dozens of rioting suspects have been arrested in recent days in some provinces in the south including Lahj and Dhale in connection with lawbreaking and attacking the people and their stores.
More recently, several stores were burned and people were injured and some killed when protests turned violent as the tide of violence remains in the south.
The north and south of Yemen reunited in 1990 and in 1994 a civil war erupted between them when the northern legitimate forces defeated the separation forces of the south.