26 militants, 10 soldiers killed in Yemen fighting

Sanaa, Aug 30: Military officials say 26 al-Qaida militants and 10 soldiers, including a colonel, have been killed in fierce fighting in southern Yemen.

The officials said today that 38 militants and 30 soldiers also were injured when al-Qaida-linked militants intercepted advancing army troops in Dufas, west of Zinjibar, capital of Abyan province.

They say the fighting took place over the past 24 hours. Yemen's militants have taken advantage of the country's political turmoil to seize several towns in the nearly lawless south. Weeks of ground fighting and airstrikes could not dislodge them.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military rules.

AP