Tribesmen Kill 2 Qaida Suspects in South Yemen

Yemeni tribesmen have killed two suspected al-Qaida militants in the restive southern province of Abyan, a tribal source said on Friday.

"Our armed men killed al-Qaida fighters Abdullah Umeir and Shokri Shaher as they tried to infiltrate Mudia," a town in the province held by tribesmen, late on Thursday, the source told Agence France Presse on condition of anonymity.

According to a military official, nine suspected al-Qaida militants were killed in an attack on a Yemeni army unit late on Wednesday near Abyan's capital Zinjibar.

Since May, Yemeni troops backed by tribesmen have been battling militants believed to be affiliated with al-Qaida to regain control of at least three cities in Abyan, including Zinjibar, under militant control.