South Yemen Insurgency
The political movement behind the so-called 'insurgency' is a group called the South Yemen Movement. Led by exiled South Yemeni leaders and opposition figures, this group calls for peaceful protests. However, their protests have recently often turned into riots, some with armed fighters. The insurgency has occasionally been linked by the Yemeni government to Islamist groups, including ex-military commanders and South-Yemeni tribes. South Yemen is home to several jihadist movements, some of which are believed to be affiliated with al-Qaeda, most notably a group called the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army. Naser al-Wahishi the leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula expressed support for the South Yemeni separatist movement.[8] However leaders of the South Yemen Movement were quick to deny any links with al-Qaeda.[9] Many believe that Saleh's government is using al-Qaeda as a means to win international support against insurgencies in the North and South.[10] As a response to such accusations, Tariq al-Fadhli - one of the leaders of the southern movement - posted a video of himself on YouTube raising the American flag with the national anthem over his compound in an attempt to openly distance himself from Al-Qaeda.[11]
There are many leaders within the movement, including Fadi Hassan Ahmed Baoum who is head of the South Yemen Movement's Supreme Council. He was arrested and later released by Yemeni authorities. Meanwhile Tahir Tamah has been said to be behind the group's militant faction.[12]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Yemen_insurgency