Yemen started on Monday a UN-backed national dialogue aimed at paving the way for a new constitution and elections.

Yemen started on Monday a UN-backed national dialogue aimed at paving the way for a new constitution and elections.

At least 500 representatives of Yemen's various political groups - from secessionists in the south to Zaidi in the north, in addition to civil society representatives - are taking part in the dialogue in Sanaa, the capital.

The aim of the talks is to draft a new constitution and prepare for general elections in February 2014, after a two-year transition led by President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi.

The dialogue was being held as per the UN-brokered deal that eased former strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh out of office following an 11-month uprising against his 33-year rule.

The talks, originally scheduled to start in mid-November, were delayed mainly due to the refusal of factions in the Southern Movement -- campaigning for autonomy or secession for the formerly independent south -- to join the talks.

Most factions have finally agreed to take part after months of negotiations and under UN pressure.

But a movement led by South Yemen's former president Ali Salem al-Baid has insisted instead on negotiations between two independent states in the north and south.

On Sunday, thousands of its supporters protested against the national dialogue, demanding that their region be seceded from the north.