The Separatist Movement, Al-Harak, in the south intends to escalate its struggle to prevent Yemen from holding the 20th Gulf Cup in Aden and Abyan Provinces later this year, a movement leader said on Thursday.

We will use all forms of peaceful struggle to thwart the football championship and Aden will be unsafe for it, Shalal Ali Shaye'a said, few days after the authorities said the investigations of the mastermind of the deadly attacks on the Al-Wahda Sports Club early this month had revealed he had sponsored and been involved in the attacks.

What the Yemeni government says over the situation in the south is untrue and the government can't make the event a success, he said.

After the attacks on the club, which killed four and injured at least 17 others, some suspects were arrested including the mastermind who confessed to planning and carrying out the attacks.

The mastermind also said a prominent politician, who was later identified by the government as Harak leader Shaye'a, had been involved in the twin blasts, which took place at a time when Yemen is saying it is ready and prepared every thing for hosting the championship during November 22 to December 5.

As the trial of the suspects started, the prosecution said they had confessed to the involvement of Shaye'a in planning and coordinating the attacks.

But Shaye'a declined to comment on the confessions, saying the trial was a scenario by the government, which usually fabricates stories and accusations.

The suspects are innocent and the case was clearly fabricated, he said.