Yemeni military troops have started withdrawing from the southern Abyan Province according to local reports, in compliance with an agreement between the internationally recognized government of Yemen and the southern separatists, known as Southern Transitional Council (STC).
Unnamed military sources told Al-Masdar Online news that Army vehicles arrived at Ataq City, in the southeast province of Shabwah, from Abyan Province on January 14.
Other government army vehicles headed towards Bayhan town, in Shabwah, and the central province of Marib, the source added.
The pull-out would gradually gather pace in the coming days as security forces in Abyan prepare to assume their responsibilities in the province, sources told the pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat.