4 Yemen Troops Die in Clashes with Militants

Four soldiers were killed in a third day of fighting in Zinjibar between the army and al-Qaida-linked militants trying to take over the restive southern city, military officials said on Wednesday.

"Four soldiers were killed and at least 20 others were wounded" in the battles to retake full control over Zinjibar from fighters of the al-Qaida linked Partisans of Sharia (Islamic law) group late Tuesday, they said.

A local official in the adjacent town of Jaar said meanwhile that nearly 10 extremists were killed in the fighting and that they were buried in the same town.

Yemeni government forces have been backed by tribal fighters and sometimes supported by U.S. drone strikes in their fight against the Partisans of Sharia, which has controlled most of Zinjibar since May.

In Huta, another southern city, an intelligence officer was also shot dead late on Tuesday, a security official said.

"Masked gunmen suspected of belonging to al-Qaida opened fire on Colonel Mohammed Saleh al-Taus near his house in Huta killing him immediately," said the official, adding the assailants fled on their motorcycle.

Al-Qaida has profited from the instability caused by 11 months of protests against Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh, strengthening its positions across the south of the country.