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Airstrike kills 8 suspected militants in Yemen

26 August 2011 02:53 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Yemeni military and medical officials say an airstrike has killed eight suspected al-Qaida militants, including a group leader, in the south of the country, APA reports quoting Associated Press.

The Yemeni government is waging a military campaign to drive out Islamic fighters who overran several southern towns months ago. The militant takeover took place as the government was trying to suppress a nationwide protest movement seeking the ouster of the longtime president.

The officials say Thursday’s airstrike targeted the Ansar al-Sharia group, which is suspected of links to al-Qaida in Yemen. One official identified one of the slain militants as a leader of the group named Abu Jaber al-Sanaai.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak to the press.