Yemeni pro-government parties demand UAE 'immediately withdraw' from Socotra

A number of leading Yemeni political parties that support the internationally-recognised government are demanding the UAE withdraw its forces immediately and unconditionally from Socotra island.

In an unprecedented move, they issued a statement on Tuesday warning against the UAE's 'militarisation' of the island, a UNESCO world heritage site.

They called on Saudi Arabia to pressure its partner in the Arab anti-Houthi coalition to vacate Socotra.

"We are concerned by the dangerous turn of events in the Socotra Archipelago... following unilateral moves by... the UAE in contravention of international norms and the objectives of the Arab coalition backing the legitimate government in Yemen," the statement published by SABA news agency said.

The UAE has carved out a zone of influence in southern Yemen over the past two years, and has recently consolidated is presence in the island. The move has antagonised locals who see the move as de-facto foreign occupation.

Socotra, which has been spared the violence that has ravaged mainland Yemen, sits at the exit of a bustling shipping lane that leads from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean.

"Sending Emirati reinforcement to Socotra to occupy the airport and port in the island... and deploying in vital positions... is an attempt to drag the island into schemes unrelated to the effort to restore the legitimate government and undermines the sovereignty of Yemen," the statement said.

"The militarisation of the island has disturbed the population and triggered protests," it added, calling on all sides to lobby Saudi Arabia to pressure the UAE to withdraw immediately from the island and remove the tensions resulting from Emirati policies there.

The statement was signed by the pro-government faction of the General Congress Party, the Islah Party, the Peaceful Southern Movement, and a number of other parties that support the internationally recognised government of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Last week, the United Arab Emirates suddenly boosted its military presence on the remote Yemeni island, which the Gulf state has been accused of "occupying".