Yemen: 5 killed in clashes with Al Qaeda militants

January 28, 2012| Associated Press

SANAA, Yemen -- Yemeni security officials say fighting between government troops and Al Qaeda linked militants in the country's south has killed at least five people.

The army has been trying for months to dislodge the militants from the towns and territory they seized last spring in Abyan province, taking advantage of the security collapse in the country amid months of political turmoil.

The security officials say Friday's fighting is centered near the town of Jaar, and that four militants and one soldier have been killed. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

Resident Hisham Abdel-Qader says he fled his home near Jaar because of intense government shelling.