Yemen skirmish claims 23 lives

[innocenty]

Army officials said 23 people were killed in clashes on Monday between the military and al-Qaida-linked militants in the country's south.

The officials said the militants attacked an army position in the town of Lawder, Abyan province, where al-Qaida fighters have taken advantage of political turmoil to seize territory.

They said the dead included 18 militants and five soldiers, including a colonel.

Three soldiers were wounded.