Yemen's southern separatists kidnapped an army officer near Habilayn (Lahej province) at the weekend – apparently as a bargaining ploy for the release of prisoners.

The officer, identified by the Yemen Post as Major Muhammad al-Khawlani and by AFP as Captain Mohammed Ali Abdullah Hadyan, is said to be a prominent member of an influential northern tribe which has now sent high-level mediators to the south.

AFP says "Capturing soldiers appears to be a new tactic adopted by the Southern Movement" – which it is, though hostage-taking for bargaining purposes is a long-established practice in Yemen. In this instance, it seems to have been prompted by the death sentence imposed on Fares Adbullah Saleh, a separatist who was convicted of killing four people in two bombings.

Last week, a group of soldiers were taken hostage in the south but promptly released after tribal mediation. 

For several months now, al-Qaeda has also been assassinating individual officers working for the government's security services in the south.

Meanwhile, disturbances continue in Habilayn following last week's demonstration and gun battle, and the military have
sent reinforcements to the area.

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 20 Dec 2010