Qahtan Mohammed al-Shaabi
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Qahtan Mohammed al-Shaabi (1920-1976) was the first President of the People's Republic of South Yemen. Al-Shaabi's National Liberation Front party wrested control of the country from the British and won political supremacy over the opposition Front for the Liberation of Occupied South Yemen in 1967. On 30 November, the protectorate of South Arabia was declared independent as the People's Republic of South Yemen with al-Shaabi as President.
Al-Shaabi held the presidency until 22 June 1969, when a hard-line Marxist group from within his own party seized control. Salim Ali Rubai replaced al-Shaabi.