Military officials in Yemen say clashes between the army and al-Qaida's local branch there have killed at least 13 suspected militants and four troops.
The officials said the fighting early today started when a suicide car bomber attacked a military camp in the city of al-Qatn in the southern province of Hadramawt.
They said militants then assaulted the camp, prompting a gunbattle that lasted for more than an hour that killed 10 suspected militants and four troops.
The officials said the army also fired artillery at a nearby home believed to hide al-Qaida fighters, killing three suspected militants inside.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief reporters.
The US considers Yemen's al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula the most dangerous branch of the group.
