Yemeni troops have wrested control of a strategic town in the south of the country following fierce fighting with militants linked to al-Qaeda, local sources said Thursday dpa reported
The troops, backed by tribal fighters, had flushed out insurgents of the self-styled group, Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Sharia), from Laudar in the volatile province of Abyan, said the sources.
Residents of the town, located on a key road north of the provincial capital Zinjibar, took to the streets to "celebrate the victory," according to the sources.
Zinjibar and several other areas of the province remain under the control of Ansar al-Sharia, which is believed to be affiliated to al-Qaeda.
At least 60 militants have died in a major army offensive since Saturday in southern Yemen, according to broadcaster Al Arabiya.
President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi vowed Wednesday to continue the campaign "until Abyan is completely cleansed of Ansar al-Sharia."
Radicals with suspected ties to al-Qaeda have taken advantage of the weak central government and a year of political turmoil to widen their influence in the impoverished country.
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