Sana'a: The Yemeni government has warned its citizens against cooperating with Al Qaida operatives who escaped a government crackdown on Thursday.
In an official statement, the government praised its security men as heroes in the operation against the Al Qaida group. The crackdown was praised by both the US and Egypt as both countries said they stood with Yemen in their fight against Al Qaida.
The leader of Al Qaida in Abyan, Mohammad Saleh Al Kazimi, was confirmed to be among those killed.
The second man in Al Qaida in Yemen, Qasim Al Raimi, reportedly survived the attack. Ten of the Al Qaida members killed in Thursday's attacks were not Yemenis, according to the report.
Between 24-34 Al Qaida members were reportedly killed in the attack, but independent sources and eyewitnesses say that nearly 50 were killed and 60 injured including women and children.
