Yemen: 9 killed in fighting in south

[June 20, 2012]  SANAA, YEMEN (AP) -- Yemeni military officials say fighting in the country's south has killed six al-Qaida fighters and three soldiers as the government presses an offensive that has retaken several militant strongholds..

The officials say the fighting that continued until early Wednesday took place about 15 kilometers (10 miles) from Azan in Shabwa province. The army seized the town earlier this week and militants fled to mountainous areas. One soldier was also wounded.

In another recently recaptured town, Zinjibar, demining teams found the bodies of seven militants including three Egyptians killed in earlier fighting. The team spotted another Egyptian militant but he killed himself with a hand grenade before being arrested.

Three civilians were killed Tuesday in Zinjibar by landmines planted by the militants, the officials said, speaking anonymously according to regulations.

[Associated Press; By AHMED AL-HAJ]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.