Six kidnapped soldiers released in south Yemen
Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:40 GMT
* Soldiers kidnapped to protest southerner's death sentence
* Demonstrations continue in Dalea
ADEN, Yemen, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Five soldiers and one army officer who were kidnapped in south Yemen at the weekend have been released, local officials said on Monday.
The men were among at least seven soldiers kidnapped by gunmen to protest a southerner's sentencing to death on accusations of bombing an Aden soccer club in October, which killed four people, ahead of a regional soccer tournament hosted by the Arabian Peninsula state.
Protests have paralysed south Yemen towns known to be secessionist strongholds since the court handed down a death sentence to Faris Abdullah Saleh on Saturday.
The release of the six soldiers kidnapped in the town of Dalea came on condition that Faris Abdullah Saleh be given a fair trial when he appeals his sentencing.
Protests continued for a third day in Dalea and shops and restaurants remained closed, residents said.
North and south Yemen formally united in 1990 but some in the south, home to many of Yemen's oil facilities, say northerners have seized their resources and discriminate against them. (Reported by Mohammed Mukhashaf; Writing by Erika Solomon)
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