It said Yemeni security forces were hunting followers of slain anti-U.S. cleric Hussein al-Houthi who also injured 20 policemen and soldiers in the attacks in Saada province, 240 km (150 miles) north of the capital Sanaa. "The security and armed forces are now pursuing these elements
trying to capture them and bring them to justice," Saba said, quoting a security source. Local sources had earlier said that said seven policemen and 10 militants died in the clashes. Houthi, leader of the Believing Youth group and a Zaidi Shi'ite Muslim sect, was killed in September last year after two months of clashes with security forces in which over 200 rebels and troops died. The government of the Arab state accused Houthi of forming an armed group which staged violent protests against the United States and Israel. The group is not linked to al Qaeda.
Yemen has joined the U.S.-led war on terrorism since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. It has cracked down on al Qaeda-linked militants after attacks at home, including the bombing of the warship USS Cole in 2000 and the 2002 attack on the French supertanker Limburg.
Yemen has also been cooperating with its bigger neighbor, Saudi Arabia, in combating a wave of attacks by supporters of Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda.
The official Saudi Press Agency said Monday that Yemen handed over 25 Saudis wanted by the oil-rich kingdom for security offences. Saudi Arabia has handed over eight Yemenis to Sanaa, the agency said.