Sunday, 05 September 2010 17:04

LAHJ, 19 Dec -- Thousands of people took to the streets of several cities in south Yemen on Saturday to condemn attacks on the southern village of al-Majala in Abyan.  In the district of Radfan in Lahj, thousands rallied against the attacks holding banners that denounced the attacks.  Similar protests were reported in the southern regions of al-Dhala and Yaffa and the Islamist website, Alsahwa cited local sources as saying “the protesters described the attacks as criminal,” and denounced the state for “violent and erroneous measures.”  Al-Majala village is located in the district of al-Mahfid in Abyan, and the district’s general manager said in a statement to al-Jazeera TV “the airstrike did not differentiate between people and 49 women and children were killed.”  Meanwhile, thousands of people from Aden, al-Dhala, Lahj, Ibb and Taiz Saturday rallied in the city of Taiz condemning corruption, the state’s policies, and lack of equality, the Islamist Alsahwa website reported.  A statement at the end of the rally denounced the killing of innocent civilians in Abyan and demanded an inquiry and the trial of those responsible for the airstrikes.  The statement urged members of the southern political movement to “hold fast to the nation’s unity, stick to peaceful struggle and be on guard not to fall victim to the regime’s traps.”