by SARAH EL DEEB

Yemeni authorities stormed local offices of the two leading pan-Arab television networks and confiscated broadcasting equipment in an apparent response to their coverage of the country's south, where a protest movement is pushing to restore the region's independence. Qatari-owned Al-Jazeera and its rival Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya said Friday that security agents stormed their offices in the capital, San'a, called their staff in for questioning and seized live broadcasting equipment Thursday night.

Information Minister Hassan al-Lozy said authorities acted against the stations because they had no license to operate their live broadcasting equipment, something the stations dispute.

The networks said they believed the raids were related to their coverage of the growing tension in the south, which threatens the impoverished nation's stability along with a deepening al-Qaida presence and a separate rebel insurgency in the north.

Amid the turmoil, authorities have routinely pressured journalists, particularly over coverage of the government's struggle on these three fronts and the military's performance.

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