Four republican guards, tribesman killed in exchange fire in south Yemen

ADEN, Yemen, June 5 (Xinhua) -- At least four soldiers of the Republican Guards forces and a tribesman were killed on Sunday when the two sides exchanged fire in Yemen's southern province of Taiz, a local security official told Xinhua.

Armed tribesmen who vowed to protect anti-government protesters exchanged fire with the army forces and units of the Republican Guards, resulting of killing four soldiers and a tribesman, the official said, who asked to remain anonymous.

Earlier in the day, armed tribesmen tried to seize a number of government buildings and police stations in Awsifra district but the army forces prevented them and forced the armed tribesmen to withdraw from that buildings, the official said.

Meanwhile, local residents told Xinhua that shells targeted the presidential palace in Taiz, but no information about casualties is available till now.

Taiz province witnessed acts of looting and taking over a number of government facilities by tribesmen since last Friday.