Yemen's southern separatists say capture al-Qaeda sites in Abyan

SANAA, Yemen (AA) - The separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) said Sunday its forces captured sites held by al-Qaeda militants in Yemen’s southern Abyan province.

The move came days after the STC said it had launched a military operation in Abyan to cleanse it from terrorist organizations.

A military spokesman, Mohamed al-Naqeb, said STC forces seized control of Wadi al-Naseel and Mogan areas, east of provincial capital Zinjibar, where al-Qaeda militants are holed up.

On Tuesday, at least 22 soldiers from the government-aligned Security Belt Forces were killed in an attack by al-Qaeda militants in Abyan.

Military headquarters in Abyan come under frequent attacks, usually attributed to al-Qaeda, which is active in the mountainous areas on the outskirts of Ahwar and Al-Mahfad districts, east of Zinjibar.

The Yemeni army and forces of the allied Southern Transitional Council share control of Abyan province.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara