Senior intelligence officer killed by suspected al-Qaida militants in Yemen's Aden

ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- A high-ranking Yemeni intelligence officer was killed Monday morning when suspected al- Qaida militants opened fire at his vehicle in the southern port city of Aden, a local security official said.

Colonel Ahmed Abdu Rabu, deputy director of Aden's Military Intelligence Agency, was killed when suspected al-Qaida militants opened heavy gun fire at his vehicle in the Khor Maksar district, the official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

"The suspected al-Qaida militants managed to flee after killing the intelligence officer," the official added.

Leading members of the al-Qaida group vowed to move their battles with the army forces to the neighboring port city of Aden after government forces recaptured Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan, in a recent operation.