Ayad al-Shabwani, a leader of the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), was killed on Tuesday by artillery fire during heavy fighting that continued into Wednesday between the army and suspected Al-Qaeda militants near Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan province, the military source said.
He was killed about four kilometres (2.5 miles) east of Zinjibar, the source added.
Medical sources said 10 soldiers had been killed and 33 wounded in the fighting.
One medic at a military hospital said it had received nine dead soldiers and 15 wounded on Wednesday night.
And a medic at another hospital in Aden, the south`s main city to the west of Zinjibar, said it received 19 wounded soldiers from the 31st Armoured Brigade, and that one had died of his wounds.
Deputy Information Minister Abdo al-Janadi told a news conference in the capital Sanaa that the United States provided logistical support to the 25th Mechanised Brigade, which was besieged by militants in Zinjibar from late May.
"The American forces are helping Yemen in its fight against Al-Qaeda" with material support, Janadi said.
"They helped the army by bringing in food supplies when they were besieged by Al-Qaeda members," he said, responding to a question about alleged American involvement in Zinjibar. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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