Yemen: Twelve suspected Al-Qai'da militants killed in Zinjibar

Yemeni officials have said that the country's troops have killed 12 suspected Al-Qai'da militants near the southern town of Zinjibar. It is believed that the rebels were targeted while planting roadside bombs.

It has also emerged that two soldiers were killed when armed men attacked a military base close to the town. Yemeni officials have said that the al-Qai'da is exploiting a security vacuum within the country due to the on-going political turmoil.

On Sunday 19th June, more anti-government demonstrations were held in the capital city of Sana'a and the southern city of Taiz. Last month, Islamist militants took over Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan province, making the government's grip on the country weaker than ever.

Yemen is split between President Ali Abdullah Saleh's loyalist in the south and tribesmen and renegade military units in the north. There a fears that the situation is getting out of control and could potentially lead to a civil war.

The protests against Saleh's rule intensified after the president reneged on a deal brokered by the Gulf Arab states to secure a peaceful end to his time in office. Late on Thursday 2nd May, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), whose power transition plan Saleh refused to sign three times, said it would continue its efforts towards a "peaceful solution".

Saleh is currently in Saudi Arabia, where he recently underwent surgery for injuries sustained during an attack on his compound in Sana'a. It is yet unclear when and if he will ever return to Yemen.

Sources: BBC News, Reuters, Bloomberg

For more news and expert analysis about Yemen, please see Yemen Focus.

More deadly clashes in Sana'a

Yemeni officials have confirmed that as many as 40 people have been killed in deadly clashes in Sana'a. Fighting broke out between Yemeni security forces and tribal fighters, loyal to tribe leader Sheikh Sadiq Al-Ahmar, breaching the ceasefire.

Yemen's Defence Ministry accused the tribal fighters of seizing the headquarters of the ruling General People's Congress in the capital, however, sources close to Sheikh Ahmar say government troops attacked his complex in the north of the city.

On Tuesday 30th May, 12 protesters were shot dead in the southern city of Taiz following a move by security forces to remove a protest camp from the city centre. There was more violence in the town of Zinjibar, between government forces and alleged Al-Qai'da militants.

On Wednesday 25th May, US President Barack Obama said President Ali Abdullah Saleh should "move immediately on his commitment to transfer power". UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon added that he was "deeply troubled" by the violence and called on all sides to find a peaceful solution. But the situation in Yemen seems to be deteriorating rather than improving with Saleh refusing to help ease the crisis; many fear the prospect of a civil war.

Sources: BBC News, The Associated Press, AFP, Reuters

For more news and expert analysis about Yemen, please see Yemen Focus.