Following a week of violence in Yemen southern provinces and acute fears Yemen Southern Secessionist Movement could at any second pull the trigger on civil war, the authorities decided on Thursday to release Qassem Askar and Sheikh Hussein bin Shuaib -- both leaders of radical factions within the Southern Movement --
Both men were arrested a week ago, prior to a rally which al-Harak organized in denunciation of President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi first year in office.
Activist Yasser al-Yafie confirmed on Thursday the Attorney General had indeed signed the prisoners' immediate release.
The move which many separatists denounce as a "weak reconciliation attempt" is meant to symbolize Sana'a 's willingness to move past tensions and old recriminations, all in the spirit of unity.
Both President Hadi and Prime Minister Mohammed Basindwa - both southerners - strongly reaffirmed their commitment to unity and condemnation of all acts of violence.
Speaking on the southern issue President Hadi made clear secession was not an option he was willing to ever consider or debate.
With Yemen National Dialogue Conference scheduled for March 18th, the central government was keen to defuse escalating tensions and acts of rebellion against its authorities -- in Aden, Mukalla and Seyoun police stations and other symbols of the unity government were torched and/or destroyed by angry separatists militants, with warnings the armed rebellion against Sana'a had begun -
After meeting with President Hadi on Wednesday, al-Harak leaders - Southern Separatist Movement - demanded a series of demands be met in order to recall their civil disobedience campaign.
Speaking to the Associated Press Lufti Shatara, a Haraki activist explained "We met with Hadi yesterday [Wednesday] and he ordered the release of the two leaders [Qassem Askar and Sheikh Hussein bin Shuaib]to calm the street."
President Hadi has now until Friday to demote Aden Governor, Waeed Rashid and its Central Security Chief, Abdel-Hafez al-Sakkaf. Al-Harak holds both officials responsible for last Thursday's violence, when 4 civilians were shot down by the Security Forces and 40 others severely injured.
"If our demands are not met, there will be an overall escalation starting on Saturday across all southern provinces," warned Nizar Haitham a Haraki militant.