Yemen: 8 Al Qaeda-Linked Militants Killed in Pair of Attacks

SANAA, Yemen – A Yemeni security official says government forces and allied tribesmen have killed eight Al Qaeda-linked militants in two attacks in the country's south.

Both attacks Sunday took place near Zinjibar, one of the towns overrun by militants during a nationwide security breakdown caused by the nine-month popular uprising seeking to oust autocratic President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

In one clash, tribesmen allied with government forces exchanged fire with militants at a checkpoint, killing three, two of them Somali citizens, the official said.

In the other, the army shelled a militant position, killing five, two of them Saudi citizens.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.