Yemen's internationally-recognised government must work to ensure internal disagreements are smoothed over, including with a key separatist movement, a senior US delegation told Yemeni officials on Monday.

US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking, and Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy to Yemen, Cathy Westley, made the appeal during an exceptionally rare visit to Yemen, where they met with officials in Aden, the port city that has served as the government's seat even after it was seized by the Southern Transitional Council pro-independence group.

"The US delegation urged the Yemeni Government to continue to strengthen internal coordination, including with the Southern Transitional Council and other groups, as division weakens all parties and only exacerbates suffering," State Department spokesman, Ned Price, said in a statement.