A bomb exploded during a protest march by southern secessionists in Yemen on Thursday, killing one person and wounding two, a local official said.

The explosion occurred in the town of Lawdar, a hotbed of secessionist sentiment, in the southern province of Abyan.

The death brought to 16 the number of fatalities in a wave of nationwide protests against Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 32-year rule in the past week.

Saleh issued orders to his security forces late on Wednesday to protect protesters and prevent clashes between pro- and anti-government demonstrators, a statement said.

Reuters