Yemen: Up to 34 al-Qaida militants killed

SAN'A, Yemen — Security forces struck several al-Qaida hideouts and training sites in Yemen on Thursday, killing up to 34 suspected militants, including four would-be suicide bombers who planned attacks at home and abroad. At least 17 suspected militants were arrested.
The operations against al-Qaida in the San'a area and a southern province came as Yemen is under U.S. pressure to act more vigorously against the terror network on its territory.
An impoverished nation in the Arabian Peninsula's southwestern corner, Yemen has struggled in its efforts to deal with al-Qaida's growing presence as well as its homegrown Islamic extremism.
Provincial security official Saleh el-Shamsy said airstrikes early Thursday followed by a ground operation targeting a training camp in the southern Abyan province killed up to 30 suspected militants.
A security official and witnesses, meanwhile, said civilians were caught up in the government offensive in Abyan, with several homes destroyed in the airstrikes and others stormed by troops who mistook them for al-Qaida hideouts..more..http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jyZ4yhVqAu5yqaNFXVY9748IMsNwD9CL3B800