S. Yemen Truce Call Ignored; New Clashes Erupt

Clashes between government troops and rebel forces continued in the streets of South Yemen’s capital of Aden on Thursday as a cease-fire call went unheeded. But peace talks were reported to be under way.

Tribes in the interior of the country were said to be taking sides in the four-day-old conflict, and unconfirmed reports said the tribesmen were advancing on the capital of the pro-Soviet state.

Gen. Salih Muslih Kassim, the defense minister, was reported by diplomats to have joined the rebels, and Kuwait’s Al Siyassah newspaper said that Kassim is now leading the revolt.

Communications with Aden were cut off again Thursday. There had been sporadic contact Wednesday for the first time since Monday. The airport remained closed, and electricity and water supplies were reportedly disrupted.

Western diplomatic sources in Paris said that rebel leaders were meeting with pro-Soviet President Ali Nasser Hasani at the Soviet Embassy in Aden in an effort to end the revolt by hard-line Marxists.

The Paris sources said the rebel delegation was led by the four leaders of an attempted coup they launched against Hasani on Monday. Previously, state-run Aden radio had said that all four were either killed in the uprising or executed in its aftermath.

Diplomats in Moscow said that it is unlikely that the rebellion has Soviet backing and that the reported meeting at the Soviet Embassy reflects Moscow’s interest in returning stability to one of its key allies in the region.

“This should not be seen in terms of pro-Soviet factions, but more as a personal power struggle,” one envoy in Moscow said.

Entrance to Red Sea

South Yemen, one of the world’s poorest nations, is on the southern edge of the Arabian Peninsula at the entrance to the Red Sea, along a major international shipping route.

Diplomatic sources in touch with Aden said that the Politburo of the ruling Socialist Party on Wednesday night set up a committee of five, including four Cabinet ministers, “to take the necessary steps to restore peace and security.”

The five, whom the sources described as neutral in the power struggle, called for a cease-fire starting early Thursday.

But no truce took hold, and diplomats from Persian Gulf nations reported to their governments that there was fresh fighting Thursday, mainly with small arms, after an overnight lull.

Official sources in Aden said Wednesday that the government had gained the upper hand in fierce battles for the capital. But on Thursday, Western diplomats said government forces had failed to flush out rebels from positions at the airport and other parts of the city.

Tribes in the interior were taking sides in the rebellion, apparently in line with tribal loyalties to the protagonists, diplomats and Persian Gulf newspapers said.

Diplomats said that tribesmen in the area east of Aden were reported to have declared support for the rebels, and an Abu Dhabi newspaper said that tribesmen north of the capital had also joined the rebellion.

The diplomats said there were unconfirmed reports that tribesmen were advancing on the capital.

“Aden is the key to controlling South Yemen,” one commented.