Two al-Qaeda members killed in Abyan

Two militants were killed and three others wounded Sanaa – Ali Rabea At least two militants were killed and three others wounded, in the southern Yemeni Abyan province on Saturday. The victims were believed to be from al-Qaeda, following clashes with army forces backed by Popular Committees militias whose leader was assassinated whilst one of its members was killed and another wounded. The Yemeni military and security committee threatened to take firm measures against anyone who attacked government agencies. It warned tribesmen in Marib against supporting vandalising agents or providing refuge to al-Qaeda members.
The Yemeni parliament was not able to resume its session on Saturday, as the meeting room was stormed by armed men affiliated with political tribesmen.
Parliamentary sources affirmed to Arabstoday that armed agents affiliated with tribal members of parliament broke into the meeting room. This compelled parliament speaker Yahya Al-Rai to end the session as MPs left while no official statement was issued by the parliament to comment on the incident.
Reprisal issues as well as political and competitive disagreements between some Yemeni MPs, have overshadowed its sessions amid calls to prevent some accompanying armed men from entering the parliament.
The Yemeni military and security committee warned Saturday to take firm measures against anyone who attacks government agencies and service facilities referring to the latest oil pipe explosion in Marib.
In a copy of a statement obtained by Arabstoday, the committee called on tribesmen in Marib to take a clear and firm stance towards vandals as well as al-Qaeda members dispersed in some areas of the government. The statement urged the tribes to declare themselves innocent of these agents so that Yemeni citizens will not feel that the Marib people will stand behind their suffering.
The committee praised the Yemeni Interior Ministry’s plan to provide sufficient numbers of security troops in Sanaa, and stressed the necessity to ban carrying arms around the city.
The Yemeni government declared earlier an end to oil pumping of crude oil from Marib to Ras Eisa Port and into the Red Sea.
Another oil well was subjected to an explosion that caused work to stop. Two more explosions were foiled amid fears of continued aggressions related to local tribal demands and to earlier threats by al-Qaeda in Marib and Shabwah.
At least two militants were killed Saturday, three wounded and arrested in Abyan, south of Yemen, during clashes between the Yemeni army backed by the militia of popular committees and al-Qaeda members in Wadi Marib.
Local sources affirmed to Arabstoday that at least two soldiers were wounded during confrontations by a military campaign. This was carried out by the army and Popular Committees to chase al-Qaeda members in Wadi Marib.
Al-Qaeda leader Nader Al-Shadadi, is believed to be in the area with a group of armed militants who were responsible for the death of one person and caused injury to another on Friday. This was during an attempt to assassinate the leader of Popular Committees in Abyan.
The Yemeni army had launched a major military operation in Yemeni cities last May.
This resulted in the expelling of al-Qaeda militants who declared Abyan and Shabwah regions as Islamic emirates.
The organisation has threatened to follow new tactics based on suicide attacks and assassinations of key security and military personalities.