Al Qaida vows more attacks on Yemeni forces

Nicosia:  Al Qaida threatened in an internet audio recording on Thursday to carry out more attacks on Yemeni forces following several suspected and confirmed Al Qaida strikes on the government that have killed dozens.

Four assaults on state targets have been attributed to Al Qaida's Yemen-based regional arm since June, though it has only claimed two of the attacks. The most recent attack by suspected militants in a southern oil province killed six soldiers.

Al Qaida in Yemen previously focused high-impact strikes on foreign targets, but has started to aim them at the state in response to enhanced US-Yemeni cooperation in a crackdown on the militant group that has included air strikes and raids.

"You are covering for American crimes to subjugate the people of this country to serve US interests in the region," said the tape, posted on an Islamist website.

"These crimes will be responded to harshly."

Accusing the government of entering a "crusader alliance", killing innocent Muslims and demolishing homes and mosques, the tape vowed more assaults like the June attack on a police base in the southern port city of Aden that killed 11 people.

"The Aden operation came in the context of these crimes and, God willing, we will strike again when the time is right."