Soldiers loyal to the Southern Transitional Council (STC) guard the mourners in Aden, Yemen, on Aug. 7, 2019. At least two people were killed and 10 others injured in clashes between presidential guard forces and mourners in the southern port city of Aden on Wednesday, a medical official told Xinhua. (Photo by Murad Abdo/Xinhua)
ADEN, Yemen, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and 10 others injured in clashes between presidential guard forces and mourners in the southern port city of Aden on Wednesday, a medical official told Xinhua.
A source working at Jamhuria public hospital in Aden said on condition of anonymity that "the medical teams received two killed mourners and 10 others injured in the clashes that occurred at a cemetery near the presidential compound."
Ambulances were dispatched to the clashes site to transfer a number of injured soldiers as clashes are still ongoing in the area, the medical source said.
Witnesses told Xinhua by phone that mourners attempted to storm the locations of the presidential guard forces near the palace, sparking clashes in the area of Crater in Aden.
Other security units loyal to the Southern Transitional Council (STC) guarding the mourners intervened and opened fire towards the president guard forces in Crater, according to the witnesses.
Following the armed clashes, Hani Bin Buraik, the deputy president of the Aden-based STC, delivered a televised speech, calling on the people to march towards the presidential palace and overthrow the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
Sources confirmed to Xinhua that "heavy forces backed by armored vehicles headed towards the palace to kick the government officials linked to the Muslim Brotherhood Islah party out of the city."
Residents said that clashes are still taking place between the two sides in the areas surrounding the Presidential Palace of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of people attended a funeral of army commanders and soldiers killed last week in an attack of a ballistic missile fired by the Houthi rebels against Aden.
Key leaders of the STC attended the funeral held in Aden's neighborhood of Crater amid tightened security measure with armored vehicles deployed in the area.
Munir Abu Yamamah, leader of the first armored brigade, along with scores of soldiers, were killed in Thursday's ballistic missile attack that struck the Jalaa military base in Buraiga district in Aden's western part.
Mourners were shouting anti-government slogans and threatening to march towards the presidential palace in Aden, but forces of the government blocked roads leading to the palace, according to local residents.
Considered Yemen's temporary capital, Aden is where the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has based itself since 2015.
The impoverished Arab country has been locked in a civil war since late 2014, when Houthi rebels overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa.
