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| Fierce battles kill 19 in south Yemen |
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At least 19 people have been killed after Yemeni forces and Al-Qaeda militants exchanged heavy gunfire in the southern province of Abyan.
Fierce battles broke out on Monday evening after Al-Qaeda militants carried out surprise attacks on the besieged 25th Mechanized Brigade in Zinjibar city, located 278 kilometers (173 miles) south of the capital Sana'a, local army officers told Xinhua news agency on condition of anonymity.
Twelve Al-Qaeda militants and seven soldiers died as the two sides engaged in intense fighting. Dozens of others were also injured during the clashes.
Meanwhile, sporadic clashes are reportedly still going on across the northeastern outskirts of Zinjibar.
Military reinforcements are expected to arrive in Abyan province over the next two days to assist government forces in the fight against Al-Qaeda militants, according to Yemeni army officers.
Yemeni opposition has accused embattled Ali Abdullah Saleh of having allowed Zinjibar to fall into the hands of militants, in a move to distract world public opinion from mass protests calling for an end to his 33-year despotic rule.
The Common Forum parliamentary opposition coalition in a statement blamed Saleh of having "delivered Zinjibar to armed groups that he has formed and armed, to continue to utilize the specter of Al-Qaeda to frighten regional and international parties."
According to local reports, hundreds of protesters have been killed and many others injured in Yemen since the anti-government demonstrations began in late January.
(Source: press TV)
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