Al-Qaeda denies arrests, killing of members

MAREB, Aug 04 (Saba) - As the Yemeni
authorities announced they had arrested suspected al-Qaeda militants after they
attacked a
military convoy in northeastern Yemen, al-Qaeda has denied the arrests and killing
of its affiliates.
Al-Qaeda said in a statement they killed many soldiers including an officer and
seized seven troops in clashes with teh security forces in the district of Shabwan
in Mareb,
150 km northeast of the capital, Sana'a.
In the six-hour battle, al-Qaeda fighters also seized a military truck carrying
many weapons and destroyed seven tanks, the statement said, adding that the
fighters hit
the republican palace in the province targeting senior Yemeni officials staying there.
The security forces, however, attacked several houses in the district and the
fighters faced the attack, the statement said.
Earlier governor of Mareb Naji al-Zayedi denied reports that three soldiers and two
militants were killed in fighting with suspected al-Qaeda members after a military
convoy
was targeted on Thursday.
He confirmed there were no deaths from both sides and the operation was ongoing to
hunt the suspects.
FR