ADEN, Yemen, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- A leader of Yemeni secessionist Southern Movement was detained by police troops in the southern port city of Aden on Wednesday morning, a pro- secessionism activist told Xinhua.
Qussim Askar Jubran, a prominent leader of the secessionist Southern Movement, was arrested by police troops along with three of his followers who were stationed around his residential building in Aden province, the local pro-secessionism activist said on condition of anonymity.
"The police troops backed by armored vehicles raided the house of Jubran and took him along with some of his followers to an unknown location," the activist said.
"Without any warrant or order the troops barged into the house and locked all his family members in one room while police officers attacked Jubran and took him away," he added.
Jubran heads a bloc in the supreme council of the pro-secession Southern Movement, the main organizer of separatist protests in Aden and southern regions in recent months.
Local government officials have declined to comment.
Arresting separatist leaders by the Yemeni security services may spark more violence and tension in the city, according to local analysts.
The port city of Aden is a main stronghold of youth activists demanding independence or autonomy for the south.
North and South Yemen unified peacefully in 1990, but the relationship deteriorated in 1994. Calls for separation in the country's southern regions were renewed in 2007.
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