4 killed in clashes between gov't troops, al-Qaida militants in Yemen's Abyan

ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Armed clashes between Yemeni government troops and al-Qaida militants on Tuesday killed at least four soldiers and injured seven others in the southern province of Abyan, an army officer said. 

A local army officer, who asked to remain anonymous, said the armed clashes renewed between dozens of the al-Qaida militants and government troops on the eastern outskirts of Zinjibar city, the provincial capital of Abyan province, which was recaptured by the army forces from the terrorist group earlier the week.

"Violent clashes took place this afternoon during the army's attempt to track the rest of al-Qaida fugitives on the eastern parts of Zinjibar," the officer from the 119th Armored Brigade told Xinhua. 

 "The attempt was countered with heavy confrontation with the al- Qaida insurgents, which resulted in the killing of four soldiers and injuring seven of others," the officer added. 

Meanwhile, a close source to the al-Qaida militants said "after the armed confrontation with government troops in Bagdar area east of Zinjibar, government air strikes hit the group's fortifications, killing two of them and injuring three of others." 

Abyan, some 480 km south of the capital Sanaa, is a key stronghold of the al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). 
The government troops on Saturday freed the besieged army forces and recaptured Zinjibar city after three-month-long fighting with AQAP militants.