Yemeni raids kill 16 al-Qaeda militants in south

Sana'a, May 14, 2012-(AP) Yemeni military officials say fresh government raids have killed at least 16 al-Qaida militants in the troubled south where the army is trying to uproot the terror group.

The officials say military warplanes on Monday pounded an al-Qaida hideout about 70 kilometers (44 miles) from the southern city of Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan. The bombardment killed at least 10 militants.

The army also fired missiles at a moving vehicle, killing six militants inside it on the outskirts of another southern town, Lawder.

The town was controlled by al-Qaida last year until its residents drove out the militants, who have since been trying to stage a comeback.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.