Three soldiers killed and others wounded in Aden

By Fatik Al-Rodaini

Sana'a, September 3, 2011 - At least three soldiers were killed and seven others were wounded in Yemen's southern port of Aden.

Sources said that a suicide bomber drove into a checkpoint on Saturday evening on the road between the city of Aden and Abyan province, where the army is battling Islamist militants.

The suicide bomber was also killed in the blast while the death toll was likely to rise. The number of people injured was not known.

Earlier Saturday, Yemeni military and medical officials said three soldiers and 12 militants were killed during clashes between Islamists and army units advancing on Zinjibar. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Militants have seized a number of cities in southern Yemen, taking advantage of political turmoil that erupted in February with mass protests against longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh.