Al Jazeera said it obtained exclusive footage of the incident, which appeared to show several wounded individuals at the scene.
The confrontation occurred on Thursday after Prime Minister Shaya Mohsen al-Zindani chaired the first meeting of Yemen’s internationally recognised government at the al-Maashiq palace. The session was held amid demonstrations opposing the government, as reported by Saba News Agency.
In a statement cited by Al Jazeera, the Aden Governorate Security Committee said security forces acted lawfully in response to armed protesters who tried to enter the area to carry out what it described as acts of sabotage. The committee added that it would not tolerate involvement in unrest or attacks on security personnel.
The Southern Transitional Council said at least 21 people were wounded in the incident. The group condemned what it called the excessive use of force and live ammunition against demonstrators and demanded the formation of an investigative committee. It also urged the international community to address what it described as systematic repression against residents of the southern governorates.
The Southern Transitional Council, backed by the United Arab Emirates, had controlled Aden and much of southern Yemen until it was pushed back by a Saudi Arabia-supported government offensive in early January.
On Friday, the STC announced it would not recognise the legitimacy of the newly formed Yemeni government, describing its presence in the interim capital Aden as a de facto authority without political or popular backing. The group said the government does not represent the will of the people in the south.
It further warned that any official government presence in Aden or other southern governorates would not create political obligations for southern representatives.
Yemen has experienced prolonged instability since 2014, when Houthi rebels seized large areas of the country, including the capital Sanaa. The Southern Transitional Council, established in 2017, is an armed separatist movement seeking self-determination and independence for southern Yemen.
