1.989820-237674568
Yemeni soldiers gather at the site where two suicide bombers blew up a vehicle at an elite Republican Guard camp in Bayda, 170 kilometres southwest of Sanaa, on Saturday. Image Credit: AFP

Sana’a: Thirty Yemeni soldiers were killed on Sunday in clashes with Al Qaida militants trying to take army positions in the Kud area of the restive southern province of Abyan, a military official and medics said.

"So far 30 soldiers have been killed and the toll is expected to rise as some bodies have not been transferred to hospital yet," the official said on condition of anonymity.

He said "many more soldiers were wounded" in the clashes south of Zinjibar, Abyan's provincial capital where the army has been battling extremists since May.

Suicide bombers linked to Al Qaida detonated two vehicles laden with explosives in Sunday's attack.