6 Yemeni soldiers killed in suicide attacks

At least six soldiers have been killed as suicide bombers detonated two vehicles laden with explosives at two military outposts outside the southern Yemeni city of Zinjibar on Sunday, local officials and residents say. They said one vehicle targeted on Sunday a military position held by coastal guards at the western entrance of the city; the second vehicle struck an artillery position at the southern entrance of Zinjibar. The bombers - believed to belong to a group linked to al-Qaeda called Ansar al-Sharia which controls Zinjibar – also launched a raid on both positions after the bombings, taking a number of soldiers prisoner, Local officials said. Al-Qaeda linked groups have exploited political upheaval to strengthen their foothold in Yemen, particularly in the south which is also home to rising secessionist sentiment.