Yemen: Suicide bomber kills 4 pro-army fighters

[June 04, 2012]  SANAA, Yemen (AP) -- Yemeni military officials say a suicide bomber has killed four tribal militiamen allied to the army who were advancing on an al-Qaida-held town in the country's south.

They say the attack happened in the town of Umsurra on Monday as they were moving to reinforce a new army offensive against the nearby coastal town of Shaqra.

Officials also say Yemeni warplanes continued strikes against al-Qaida positions in Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan province, and the militant stronghold of Jaar. Both have been held for over a year by militants who took advantage of Yemen's political turmoil to seize broad swaths of the south.

They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

[Associated Press; By AHMED AL-HAJ]

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