Yemen restores back 40,000 Km from Saudi Arabia, clashes renewed between al-Houthi, the army
Yemen-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 7/13/2004

Yemeni military sources in Sanaa announced yesterday renewed clashes between the army forces and the supporters of the Islamic Zeidi scholar Hussein Bader Eddin al-Houthi in the mountainous Marran area in Saddah province.

The sources refused to explain the losses registered in the two sides in the continued fighting since several days in the surrounding of several sites in Marran mountains. According to the recent results resulted two days ago, the confrontations resulted in 195 killing including 46 government forces members since the eruption of the clashes in June.

On the other hand, Yemen yesterday received five new border sites from Saudi Arabia of a total area of 40,000 square kilometers, according to Jeddah agreement for border demarcation which was signed in 2000 between the two states. On Sunday Sanaa got three border sites in the governorate of Hadramout including an airport over which the Yemeni flag was hoisted. The new positions include al-Kharkhir center and " al-Wajib" force in al-Badee area; the electricity station and telecommunications center, and Sirdab emirate center. Today, Sanaa will be handed over seven sites which are Um Ghareb, Um Gharib runway, al-Matif center, al-Akhashim center and al-Deheyah center and al-Deheyah village.

These lands are equal to the total area of Switzerland or four folds the area of Lebanon. One Yemeni official said " some 40,000 square kilometers will return back to Yemen of which 35,000 are from the eastern areas of Hadramout.." he added that Yemen will also get 5,000 square kilometers in the western area which were organized according to al-Taif agreement in 1934 " which are mountainous areas where tribal lodgings are intermingled between the two countries."

He added that a "joint committee was formed recently to deal with citizens issues on the borders especially the moves, properties and grazing on the two sides of the borders." One local Yemeni official said that Yemen will be also given " within two months other border sites in the western parts of the country including al-Tawal center in the trade road between the two countries."

Previous Stories:
  Riyadh hands over Sanaa, borders centers; seven of al-Houthi followers were killed   (7/12/2004)
  Saudi- Yemeni border demarcation operations finalized   (5/28/2004)
  Saudi, Yemen exchange handing over detainees   (5/10/2004)

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