Al-Qaida wing claims to form 12,000-strong army in southern Yemen

New Delhi, July 30 (ANI): At least 12,000 Al Qaeda fighters are reportedly gearing up for combat in southern Yemen, reports from Yemen capital Sanaa have revealed.

The Xinhua news agency quoted Yemeni security and intelligence agents as saying that they had in their possession an audio recording of Mohamed Saied al-Omda, field commander of the al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, in which he is quoted as saying: "We have a good news for the Islamic nation, that an army of 12,000 fighters is being prepared in Aden and Abyan."

"By this army, we will establish an Islamic Caliphate," Saied al-Omda, also known as Gharib al-Taizy, said, referring to Yemen's southern restive province of Abyan and the port city Aden.

"This is a message to the Yemeni government security and the National security Service: our swords are ready and we are resolved to cleanse the land," he threatened as he recalled the latest numerous deadly attacks by al-Qaida against Yemeni security facilities.

The resurgent al-Qaida regional arm in the Arabian Peninsula is blamed for at least five deadly attacks against highly-guarded Western and local targets since last month. (ANI)