The al-Qaida convoy was attacked by dozens of pro-government tribesmen while it was passing through a mountainous road on the outskirts of Lauder town in Abyan province, leaving at least six militants killed, the local tribal chief said on condition of anonymity.
"Just a few hours after the ambush that took place Wednesday evening, the al-Qaida militants tried to retaliate by firing mortar shells on some checkpoints manned by anti-Qaida tribesmen around Lauder town," the tribal chief said.
Yemeni government troops, backed by dozens of armed tribesmen, have been battling al-Qaida militants over the control of Lauder town, about 150 km northeast of Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan, for nearly three weeks, leaving hundreds of people killed or injured from both sides.
In recent months, militants of the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch have carried out heavy assaults and deadly suicide bombings against government troops across the lawless southern regions.
Hundreds of al-Qaida militants have built up main strongholds in the mountains in Abyan and Shabwa provinces, seizing control over several regions in the south.
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