Al-Qaida Kills Two Yemeni 'Sorcerers'

Al-Qaida gunmen have killed two people in southeast Yemen because they believed they were practicing witchcraft and sorcery, which are forbidden under Islam, a security official told Agence France Presse on Sunday.

The killings took place late on Saturday in the town of Shehr in Hadramawt province, the official said.

"Al-Qaida gunmen on a motorbike opened fire on Omar Abdelhafiz, killing him immediately," the official said.  

Several hours later, two other extremists killed another Shehr resident, hairdresser Saeed al-Hadrami, the source added.

Jihadists had several times threatened both men, accusing them of "practicing witchcraft and sorcery", the official said.

Taking advantage of a collapse of central authority during a 2011 uprising that forced veteran strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh from power, al-Qaida seized swathes of the south and east.

The militants imposed a strict version of Islamic law, executing or lashing those they accused of various crimes, including homosexuality and sorcery. 

Those accused of theft had hands cut off.