[Emirates 24/7] Yemeni army troops have killed 30 "Al-Qaeda gunnies" in a clash in southern Abyan province, including a leading member of the jihadist network, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.The bully boyz were killed in "fierce fighting that lasted more than three hours" on the outskirts of the city of Zinjibar, which is held by suspected Al-Qaeda gunnies, the ministry website said.
It said that Hassan al-Aqili, described as a leading member of the Al-Qaeda in the northern region of Marib, was killed in the confrontation.
Military and medics said earlier on Tuesday that 15 people, including nine soldiers, were killed in festivities overnight as army advanced to Zinjibar.
Gunmen seized control of much of Zinjibar in late May. Security officials said the bully boyz were Al-Qaeda gunnies but the political opposition accused the government of embattled President President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh
... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower...
of inventing a jihadist threat in a bid to head off Western pressure on his 33-year rule.
Inside the city, only the base of the 25th mechanised brigade remains in government hands.
Scores of soldiers have been killed in festivities in and around Zinjibar.