ADEN, Yemen, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- A group of pro-government militiamen thwarted a planned terrorist attack by al-Qaida militants in Yemen's southern province of Abyan on Friday, a security official told Xinhua.
The anti-Qaida militiamen managed to foil a planned suicide operation, capturing two suicide bombers in the eastern entrance of Luader town in Abyan province, the local security official said, requesting anonymity.
"Two al-Qaida suicide bombers were captured. They may have been planning to attack a key checkpoint manned by pro-government militiamen near Luader," the security source said.
"Suicide vests lined with explosives were found in their possession," he added.
The pro-government militiamen are still searching for al-Qaida suspects who were involved in the plot, according to the official.
The Yemen-based al-Qaida offshoot has exploited Yemen's year- long security vacuum during protests against the long-time ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh and controlled several southern cities for more than one year before they were driven out by a U.S.-backed army offensive.
On June 20, Yemen's military officials announced seizing al- Qaida's last bastion in the country's troubled south following the military offensive. However, local military and anti-terrorism experts said the Yemeni al-Qaida branch remained a major threat to the impoverished Arab country.
|
