Al Qaeda claim to have killed 30 soldiers in Yemen

Aden, March 31 (IANS) Terror outfit Al Qaeda Saturday claimed to have killed at least 30 Yemeni soldiers and seized a military site after a deadly gunbattle with government troops, Xinhua reported.

The clash occurred in the volatile southern province of Lahj, an army officer said requesting anonymity.

Up to 20 militants stormed an army barrack of the 201st Mechanized Army Brigade in the suburbs of Jaar town, killing more than 20 soldiers.

In a text message sent to Xinhua, an Al Qaeda spokesman said the outfit killed a total of 30 soldiers in the attack.

"During the battle, our holy war fighters attacked an army base, killing more than 30 soldiers and many others surrendered... we managed to seize the base along with its heavy weaponry, tanks and armoured vehicles," the message read.

At least eight Al Qaeda militants were killed, the army officer said.

After three hours of fierce fighting, Yemeni army forces left the army base and retreated from the region, he said.

The militants set off two explosions at the site after the retreat of the soldiers, the officer said.