Wednesday, 17 August 2011
By MOHAMMED MUKHASHAF | ADEN REUTERS
Islamist militants have taken control of the southern Yemeni coastal town of Shaqra, the third town to fall into their hands, tribal sources and residents said on Wednesday.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s government has lost control of some areas in the south after months of political turmoil and mass protests demanding an end to his three-decade-old rule.Islamist militants, some possibly from al Qaeda, may be exploiting a security vacuum as President Saleh and his allies fight to stay in power – or they may be pawns in that struggle.
They have already seized the town of Jaar in Abyan province in March and Zinjibar, the provincial capital, in May.
The tribal sources said government forces had let the militants seize Shaqra with little resistance. The militants, who the government says have ties to al Qaeda, entered the town in seven cars from another town already under their control.
AlArabiya | read full report
