
Yemenis have marked the sixth anniversary of the start of an uprising that ended three decades of rule by President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The internationally recognised government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi on Saturday declared February 11 the country's National Day, marking the beginning of the Youth Revolution against Saleh's rule.
A statement issued by the civil service ministry said it had been decided that February 11 would be an official holiday for all state institutions.
However, six years after the start of the uprising, hopes of change in the Arabian Peninsula country have been destroyed by sectarian divisions and a long-running conflict.
"I couldn't have been more proud of the revolution we launched," said Afnan Qaid Alyousufi, an activist from Taiz, in western Yemen.
"Freedom is so precious that we have to continue the fight. The reason why instability continues is that because the world has betrayed us."
On Friday, the UN refugee agency said tens of thousands of people had been displaced by fighting along Yemen's western coastline.
William Spindler, UNHCR spokesperson, said 34,000 people fled their homes after fierce fighting erupted in the port towns of Mokha and Dhubab on the Red Sea.
The majority of the displaced were headed to the outskirts of Taiz, he said.
Houthi warning
Yemeni forces, allied with the Hadi government that is backed by a coalition of mostly Gulf states, have recently seized Mokha and plan to push northward.
For his part, the leader of Yemen's Houthi fighters announced on Friday that his forces have built drones and missiles that will be used against the Arab coalition and would target the Saudi capital.
In a speech aired on Al Masirah TV, Abdel Malik al-Houthi offered no evidence or figures for the number of drones and missiles allegedly manufactured by the rebels but the UAE, which is part of the coalition, has recently accused the Iran of providing the Houthis with drones.
The speech also followed a Houthi claim earlier in the week that they targeted Riyadh with missiles.
There was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia but a week ago, it said a "suicide gunboat" belonging to the Houthis rammed into one of its frigates in the Red Sea, killing two crew members.
Source: Aljazeera
GMT 15:37 2018 Sunday ,21 January
Shop at this mall in Dubai, win 20 iPhone X devicesGMT 04:10 2018 Saturday ,20 January
Ethiopians throng streets for Christian Orthodox festivalGMT 23:58 2018 Saturday ,13 January
Dru Hill and Blackstreet to perform at Abu Dhabi’s Sunset Music FestivalGMT 22:55 2018 Saturday ,13 January
Dubai to host Filipino music festivalGMT 16:36 2018 Friday ,12 January
Shop Bahrain Festival 2018 launchedGMT 13:27 2018 Friday ,12 January
National Archive takes part in Sheikh Zayed Heritage FestivalGMT 14:21 2018 Tuesday ,09 January
ICSK Senior organizes yuletide festivities and holiday carousingGMT 04:54 2018 Tuesday ,09 January
ICSK Senior organizes yuletide festivities and holiday carousing

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor