Yemen: 18 al-Qaeda militants killed in fighting
Fierce clashes killed at least 21 people, including 18 Al-Qaeda militants, today near the southern Yemeni town of Loder, which Al-Qaeda is trying to capture, a local official said.
The other dead were an army officer and two tribal volunteers aiding the military.
The source said the Al-Qaeda militants were forced to retreat in the direction of Amiin, 12 kilometres south of Loder.
Witnesses said the fighting lasted for several hours, and that air force planes had bombed militant positions in the mountains southeast of Loder, from which columns of smoke could be seen rising.