Yemeni army fights to center of Al Qaeda held city

SANAA, Yemen – Yemeni officials say government troops have fought their way into the center of an Al Qaeda-held city in the country's lawless south.

The officials say the soldiers have made it to the very heart of Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan province, after an overnight battle in which artillery and tanks were used.

Al Qaeda militants seized Zinjibar last May when fighters from the terror network's Yemeni branch took advantage of the turmoil in the impoverished nation to capture several cities and towns in the south.

The officials say there were dozens of killed and wounded on both sides but had no exact figures. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.