Al-Qaeda militants kill three in southern Yemen

Apr 29, 2011

Sana'a, Yemen - Two soldiers and a civilian were reported shot dead Friday in an al-Qaeda attack on a military checkpoint in city of Zunjubar in Yemen's southern province of Abyan.

A local source said the attack was carried out Friday morning by gunmen with the Yemeni wing of al-Qaeda.

On Thursday, al-Qaeda elements raided the political security office in Abyan injuring one soldier, according to a security source.

Three soldiers were killed a dawn Wednesday in Abyan in an al- Qaeda attack on a military post.

Al-Qaeda in Abyan has taken advantage of the security vacuum in the province since government forces have been distracted by anti- regime protests that broke out in February.

At least a million protesters took to the streets across the country Friday demanding the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has been 32 years in power.