Jihadist leader in Yemen Tariq Al-Fadhli, who announced earlier he was joining the Southern Mobility, has confirmed the joining and defended his decision, expressing no fear with it.
"It, the decision, came after I have been, for a long time, weighing the idea," he said.
After I recognized the movement was founded to only demand full legal rights of the southern people I then announced publicly my joining, he added.
In an interview with the Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Newspaper, he said the goals of the movement, which he described as representing the entire political spectrum in the south, convinced him to take the decision.
"And now I am for the Southern Mobility and our main goal is to achieve a full autonomy," he said.
Replying to a question on proposals calling for correcting the unity course after the 1994 civil war between north and south Yemen, Al-Fadhli said the projects became a past but now all the people in the south are demanding autonomy.
After I declared I was joining the movement I was pressured but my decision was stronger, he said, adding there is no fear and I think there will be no unexpected consequences for the joining.
All what is happening in the country, he went on hinting to the ruling and opposition parties and their slogans, are unreal objectives, with the parties aiming to play on the public to misuse their properties.
Regarding tools the Southern Mobility uses to achieve its stated goals, he pointed to appeals for the international community to intervene and help the southern people get back their rights.
Though we have called on the international community to take action towards the suffering of the people, we received only awkward assurances.
Thus, we should depend on the southern people to make our goals a reality.
Talking about my past involvement in Jihadist groups in Afghanistan which helped the US against the Communist Emperor is a talk about a decaying history, he said.
In this regard, if any can prove terrorist charges against me, I will be ready to answer court and stand trial but those who may think to do so, they should accuse me publicly and in front of the international community.
Regarding the recent developments in the country, specifically rioting which took place in southern provinces of Abyan and Lahj, Al-Fadhli said unrest hampered by troops and overpower was a boring play manufactured by the National Security Apparatus.
In brief, the government wanted to let tribes in the region to fight each other .that's it, he made clear.
Terrorist acts in Yemen are a government-made ploys aiming to achieve dirty purposes, he said, accusing the government of being behind a lot of terror in the country.