SANAA: Yemeni troops Saturday shot dead five Al-Qaeda suspects disguised as women who fired at a soldier during a checkpoint inspection of their Saudi Arabia-bound bus, officials said.
Another suspect and the driver were wounded in the shooting in Harad, a town 15 km from the Saudi border, the officials said, adding that two of those killed were Saudis.
“As one of the soldiers climbed on board the bus for an inspection, one of the suspects opened fire and wounded him, prompting shooting from other soldiers at the checkpoint,” said a government official who gave the toll.
All six had been dressed in black robes and wore the niqab, the official in Harad told AFP.
A suicide belt and arms were also found on the bus, and the wounded suspect and driver were being questioned, said the security official.
“The men are suspected of affiliation with Al-Qaeda and were heading north toward Yemen’s border with Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Yemen security forces rarely carry out inspections of vehicles carrying women in the conservative, deeply tribal country.
In July, six Saudi Al-Qaeda suspects attacked a post on the border with Yemen, killing five security officers.
Saudi Arabia, which launched a huge crackdown on Al-Qaeda following a spate of deadly attacks in 2003-2006, is building a three-meter-high fence along its southern frontier with Yemen to counter illegal crossings and arms smuggling.
Several Houthi militiamen were killed and 10 tribesmen wounded in fighting Friday in Arhab, 35 km from Sanaa, according to sources on both sides.
Arhab is close to Sanaa International Airport and is a stronghold of Al-Islah party.
Later on Saturday, tribal sources said armed tribesmen handed Arhab over to the Houthis following mediation that led to an end of fighting.
In Sanaa, hundreds protested outside President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi’s residence demanding action against the militiamen, whom they accused of arrests and killings.
“Houthis and Al-Qaeda are the same. Hadi, either find a solution (to end their control) or leave.”
