AL-QAEDA FIGURE KILLED IN EASTERN YEMEN

SHABWA, Jan. 13 (Saba) - Security forces in Shabwa province have
killed one of the major figures of al-Qaeda in Yemen, Interior
Ministry announced on Wednesday.

An official source in the ministry confirmed the killing of the
terrorist so-called Abdullah al-Mehdhar after a siege has been laid
since early Tuesday on his house in Hawtah area, Maif'ah district of
Shabwa province, eastern Yemen.

The source was quoted as saying that the security forces have also
managed to capture four al-Qaeda members while one soldier was
killed in al-Sa'eid area in clashes between police and al-Mehdhar's
followers, who were trying to end the siege" the source added.

The security forces will keep on hunting the outlaw elements all
over the country until being captured, according to the source.

The security forces have launched a military crackdown on suspected
al-Qaeda fighters and killed dozens of them in the Arhab district,
some 40 km from the capital Sana'a, and in southern provinces of
Abyan and Shabwa.

MD/AF