Yemen's STC leader is in Aden after avoiding Riyadh meeting

ADEN - Yemen's southern separatists said on Wednesday that their leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi is in Aden overseeing military and security operations in the city, after a Saudi-led coalition in the country said he fled to an unknown destination.

The separatists added that they have lost contact with their delegation in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh.

Yemen's Saudi-led coalition attacked the home province of the Southern Transitional Council leader Wednesday after he was kicked out of the presidency and accused of "high treason" for attempting to secede.

More than 15 airstrikes hit Dhale, home governorate of al-Zubaidi, whose STC grabbed swathes of territory last month before seeing the advance rolled back by the coalition and pro-Saudi forces.

Hospital sources said four people were killed in the airstrikes as the STC called for Saudi Arabia to halt them.