Islamic state claim attack on Yemeni separatists north of Aden

Clashes erupted in southern Yemen on Friday after anexplosive device targeted separatist militants, a security sourcesaid.The blast targeted a vehicle carrying militants affiliated with theSouthern Transitional Council (STC) in Dar Saad area, in Adenprovince, leaving several killed and injured, the source told dpa. Dar Saad is located north of Aden city, the provincial capital.Through their mouthpiece, the Amaaq News Agency, Islamic State saidthat a booby-trapped Motorcycle had exploded in Dar Saad, killing andwounding nine members of the Security Belt Forces.  Following the blast, unknown gunmen believed to members of apro-government militia attacked other separatists in the same area,leading to exchange of fire between the two sides, he added.There has been a cautious calm in Aden city since the STC forcesregained control of it on Thursday, according to residents.The STC and its allied UAE-backed Security Belt forces are seekingthe secession of southern Yemen.Both the STC and Security Belt forces are part of a Saudi-ledcoalition, fighting the Iran-linked Houthi rebels who control thecapital Sana'a and other areas in northern and western Yemen.However, tensions are increasing between the Yemeni government andthe UAE, a key player in the coalition, but also a supporter of theSecurity Belt forces. Saudi Arabia has been leading a military alliance fighting theHouthis since March 2015, months after the rebels took over Sana'aand began to advance towards Aden, which has served as the temporaryseat of government.Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom is set to visit the Gulfregion in a bid to shore up support for a political settlement inYemen, the ministry said Friday.Wallstrom will visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman andJordan from August 31 to September 4 for meetings with hercounterparts as well as representatives for Yemen's government andthe UN, a statement read.Sweden in December hosted UN-sponsored talks between Yemen'sgovernment and the Houthi rebels, resulting in an agreement onwithdrawal of forces from the western port city of Hodeida, a truceand prisoner exchange that has not been fully implemented. "We stood host and contributed in different ways, and I think we havea great deal of trust with the parties and we feel that it is ourresponsibility to try to ensure that this agreement is implemented,"Wallstrom told Swedish Radio news ahead of the visit. Sweden also planned to host a meeting on Yemen on the sidelines ofthe upcoming UN General Assembly in New York next month.The western coastal province of Hodeida is of strategic importancebecause of its main port, which is the entry point for some 80 percent of Yemen's imports and aid.