Yemeni government forces on Wednesday arrested some 15 activists of the pro-secession Southern Movement in the southern port city of Aden, a police officer and some witnesses told Xinhua.

The government forces used live ammunition and tear gas in Aden 's Parade Square where hundreds of activists of the movement were demonstrating, witnesses near the scene said on condition of anonymity.

According to the witnesses, "the government stormed the public square and arrested about 15 pro-secession activists, who organizes weekly demonstrations against Yemen's national reconciliation dialogue."

A local police officer confirmed to Xinhua about the arrest. " We took away up to 15 of the secessionist protest organizers for questioning, but there are still scores at the square."

North and south Yemen unified peacefully in 1990, but their relationship deteriorated in 1994. Calls for separation in the southern regions were renewed in 2007.

Southerners complain of being marginalized, particularly after they lost a four-month civil war in 1994. Pro-secession protests are on the rise in the south amid a worsening economic situation and allegations of discrimination in favor of northerners.