SANA’A – President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi issued a decree Tuesday night, appointing Lutfi Shatara a member of the Technical Committee, responsible for preparing for the National Dialogue Conference (NDC). Shatara would replace Abdullah Al-Asnag, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and one of the opposition leaders abroad.

Shatara has already attended three committee meetings in the place of Al-Asnag.

Shatara is a southern activist and member of the Revolutionary Powers’ National Council abroad. He returned to Aden in May after spending several years abroad, working as a copy editor for London-based Asharq Alawsat Newspaper and establishing the Aden Press website.

The appointment came hours after Shatara called on southerners to participate in the NDC. He said it was the only way to solve the southern issue.

In a radio interview with the Yemen Times Tuesday, Shatara said the former regime led by ex-President Ali Abdullah Saleh is the leading cause the South’s current situation.

“All southerners have the right to present their suggestions and demands on the National Dialogue table, which is the only hope for all Yemenis out of this situation, particularly due to the regional and international support it receives,” Shatara said.

He said he is hopeful that all components of the Southern Movement will take part in the NDC. He also said Yemenis will start fighting each other if the dialogue fails.

“Southerners handed over their state along with all its institutions in 1990, and they were the ones to call for unity. However, they were marginalized by former president Ali Abdullah Saleh’s regime.”

Shatara said Saleh should be isolated from the political arena, accusing Saleh’s affiliates of obstructing the political compromise.