Three killed in Yemen clash

Three people, including two children, were killed in clashes between the army and armed tribals in Yemen Sunday, officials said.

A mortar shell hit a residence in central Yemen's Marib province, killing a mother and her two children, in the clashes that erupted after the tribesmen prevented engineers from reaching the damaged section of an oil pipeline that was blown up last month, Xinhua reported citing provincial officials as saying.

The soldiers who were guarding the engineers clashed with the tribal fighters and then withdrew from the area.

Heavy weapons were used in the attack.

The pipeline was blown up a day after the government announced a fuel price hike in a bid to reduce its budget deficit.

Oil pipelines are frequently attacked in Yemen by tribesmen who intend to press the government to meet their demands.

The country's government, which depends on oil exports for up to 70 percent of its budget, has bolstered security measures to protect the pipelines and prevent further attacks.