Yemen soldiers killed in clashes with Qaeda suspects

The fighting in Zinjibar has sparked fears of a spillover of alleged Al-Qaeda militants into the port Fresh fighting with alleged Al-Qaeda militants in restive Zinjibar killed five Yemeni soldiers Thursday as the army regained control of a strategic spot in the southern city, which has almost entirely fallen under the militants' control.
"Five soldiers were killed and six others were wounded in heavy fighting with Al-Qaeda militants in Zinjibar's east," a military official said, adding that there were also "deaths and injuries in the ranks of the enemy."
A medical official in the nearby city of Aden confirmed the toll.
Battles have raged since Wednesday in the area surrounding Al-Wahda stadium on the outskirts of Zinjibar, most of which fell to the Islamists a month ago.
The army on Thursday fired artillery shells at the stadium and "managed to regain its control over it," said the official.
The same source said Wednesday that losing the stadium would have deprived the troops of a strategic location since weapons were airlifted by helicopter to the brigade stationed in the arena.
Forty-eight people, including 30 soldiers and four civilians, were killed in the Wednesday fighting.
The latest violence has raised the army death toll to at least 135 troops killed since the militants, who call themselves Partisans of Sharia (Islamic law), seized control of most of Zinjibar on May 29.
The military official renewed his calls for tribes in the Abyan province -- of which Zinjibar is the capital -- "to join in the fight against Al-Qaeda."
"Al-Qaeda militants will not dare kill the tribesmen because they know they will retaliate," said the official.
The Sanaa government says the Islamist fighters are allied with Al-Qaeda but the opposition accuses the government of playing up a jihadist threat in a desperate attempt to keep embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh in power.
The country is the home of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, an affiliate of the global network accused of anti-US plots, including an attempt to blow up a US-bound aircraft on Christmas Day 2009.
President Saleh had been a key US ally in its US "war on terror" but has faced mass protests against his rule since January.
In an interview published on CNN's website Wednesday, Yemeni Vice President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi said US drones are targetting Al-Qaeda leaders using a voice recognition technology.
Two types of US drones are being used in the war on Al-Qaeda, Hadi said.
The first takes pictures and collects information while the other one carries missiles.
Hadi has come under pressure by the parliamentary opposition and the West to assume power as Saleh is currently receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia for blast wounds he sustained in a bomb attack inside the presidential palace.
But in his interview with CNN, Hadi insisted that Saleh will return. He did not say when, explaining that it was up to the doctors treating him to decide.
"I saw him immediately after the incident, he had burns on his face, burns on his hands, some burns on his chest and there was a piece of wood that was sticking between his ribs," Hadi said.
But "now thanks to God the president's health has improved a lot and improves more everyday," said Hadi.
He might return within "days, weeks, months ... this is a decision up to the doctors," said Hadi. However, Saleh would "give a statement to the nation from Riyadh through television."
But a Yemeni diplomat in Riyadh said Wednesday that Saleh's condition does not allow him to appear in the media.
"Saudi authorities, in compliance with doctors' orders, forbid any filming or visits to president Saleh, as this contradicts the atmosphere needed for his recovery," the diplomat told AFP.
Protesters have been camped out in the capital Sanaa demanding Hadi to form an interim ruling council to prevent Saleh's return to power.