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

ADEN, Yemen, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A senior officer of the military intelligence agency was killed on Wednesday evening in an attack by suspected al-Qaida militants in Yemen's southern port city of Aden, a security official said.

Colonel Abdul Hakimal-Qadhi was killed when suspected al-Qaida militants opened fire at his vehicle in the Cairo neighborhood in Aden, the local security official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

A witness told Xinhua that "two unidentified attackers approached the intelligence officer vehicle and fired at it heavily, killing the officer immediately."

The terrorist group has stepped up attacks on government interests in Yemen's lawless southern regions, exploiting turmoil in the country convulsed by 10 months of mass protests against the 33-year rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.