11 al-Qaida militants killed in battles with gov't troops in south Yemen

SANAA, ADEN, April 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 al-Qaida militants were killed Monday in battles with the government troops in Yemen's southern province of Abyan, the Defense Ministry said through its mobile service.
The ministry said the army's 111th Commando Brigade killed 11 militants of al-Qaida group in battles in Abyan's Modia district.
A provincial official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that dozens of people from both sides were killed and many others were injured, including two Saudi nationals who were fighting alongside the al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
A local military official said the battles also occurred in the Lodar district of Abyan, where the government troops killed a leader of the al-Qaida group when the latter set up a checkpoint near Akad mountain.
The clashes in the area have continued for two days, the official said on condition of anonymity.
Abyan, about 480 km south of the capital Sanaa, has been a key stronghold of resurgent al-Qaida wing since 2009.

Editor: Mu Xuequan