STC denies leaks by Reuters about Saudi proposals to save Riyadh agreement

ADEN, June 18 (YPA) – Nizar Haitham, spokesman for the UAE-Backed Southern Transitional Council, on Thursday denied leaks published by Reuters concerning Saudi proposals to save the Riyadh agreement signed between the STC and Hadi’s government in early November 2019.

In a tweet on Thursday, the STC spokesman said: “The Council has not been informed of any such initiative.

Nizar Haitham explained that the leaks by  “Reuters” is not true, adding that the al-Hadath channel  moved and manipulated its content, in order to create confusion and frustrate the spirits of the STC’s  fighters on the fronts.

He added that his militias have achieved successive victories in the Abyan front.

Earlier on Thursday, Reuters published Saudi leaks to activate the Riyadh agreement, which calls for a ceasefire between the STC and Hadi government in Abyan, and the cancellation of the Southern Transitional Council’s declaration of “self-administration” of the city of Aden, in April.

The leaks revealed the appointment of Hadi as governor and director of Aden security, and chooses the head of a mini-government, that would include the STC leaders.

Moreover, the leaks underscored the need for the STC to withdraw its militias from Aden and redeploy them in Abyan, with the Hadi government to be formed thereafter.

According to the Riyadh Agreement signed in early November 2019, Saudi Arabia has placed all southern provinces under its military administration.

E.M