7 Al-Qaeda militants killed and wounded including senior leader in Yemen's Abyan… updated

By Fatik al-Rodaini

SANA'A, April 27, 2012- At least 7 fighters linked to al-Qaeda reportedly were killed and wounded on Friday evening during an ambush conducted by tribesmen in the Yemeni city of Abyan, where continued clashes between Yemeni troops and al-Qaeda militants.

According to tribal sources, the militants were ambushed in al-Arkob district north the city of Shakera in the southern province of Abyan.

''Tribesmen ambushed a vehicle believed to be carrying al-Qaeda militants on road linking Shakera and Um Aen cities, killing and wounding 7 militants,'' the tribal sources reported.

Moreover, a senior al-Qaeda militant has died on Friday due to injuries sustained in an airstrike attacked on militant hideouts last Tuesday in Yemen's southern province of Abyan.

''Mazen Abdullah al-Saed, known as Abu Salem has died in Um Sora district of Abyan province,'' a resident stated.

Meanwhile, close sources said that al-Qaeda militants returned back to positions in Yasof district of Abyan province, where fierce battles took place between Yemeni forces backed by tribesmen and al-Qaeda militants three weeks ago.

Local news websites in southern province of Hadhramout reported that Yemeni authorities arrested during the last two days at least 39 al-Qaeda militants, all of them are foreigners.

''The militants fled from Abyan province to Al-Mukalla city after fierce clashes took place in Abyan forcing them to leave their hideouts,'' a resident said.

According to security sources, the detainees, who were arrested in al-Mukalla by the Yemeni authorities, were intending to flee to Saudi Arabia.