Yemen's army killed a suspected Al-Qaeda militant on Wednesday during a firefight in southern Abyan province that wounded at least two soldiers, a security official said.
The gun battle erupted during a search operation for "outlaws and terrorists" launched by the army in the town of Jaar, the official said on condition of anonymity.
A hospital official in Jaar said that four wounded soldiers were admitted for treatment, two of them in a serious condition.
Yemen's defence ministry reported on its 26sep.net news website that "three wanted men were arrested during the operation," and a fourth managed to escape.
Jaar, considered a stronghold of Al-Qaeda in southern Yemen, is located seven kilometres north of Zinjibar, the main city in Abyan province.
Yemen is once again in the international spotlight over security issues after two parcel bombs posted to the United States, from the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country were discovered in Dubai and Britain on Thursday.
Washington believes the parcel bombs were the work of Saudi militant Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri, a suspected Al-Qaeda bomb maker.
In addition to a mounting Al-Qaeda threat, Yemen must also contend with a sporadic Zaidi Shiite rebellion in the north, and a separatist movement in the south.
In addition to a mounting Al-Qaeda threat, Yemen must also contend with a sporadic Zaidi Shiite rebellion in the north, and a separatist movement in the south.