ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Fierce battles broke out on Saturday between the Yemeni army and dozens of terrorists in the al-Qaida-seized city of Zinjibar in the southern province of Abyan, local army officers said.
The officer told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that two armored army brigades advanced towards the center of Zinjibar city, the provincial capital of Abyan province, which was seized by al- Qaida militants along with other surrounding cities late in May.
The 119th and 201st armored army brigades made progress in several regions on the outskirts of Zinjibar city and broke the severe besiege imposed on the 25th Mechanized Army Brigade by the terrorist group members, he added.
Another army officer said that more than 35 al-Qaida militants have surrendered while the rest run away to search for safer places out of Zinjibar.
"The army units also regained control over several government buildings such as the building of the Military Intelligence Agency, " he said.
No information about casualties from both sides was available.
The government forces have been fighting with militants of the al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) for more than three months after the terrorists took control of Abyan's provincial capital city of Zinjibar along with other surrounding cities.
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