Yemen army says four suspected militants have been killed

The Yemeni army and allied tribal fighters have killed four suspected Islamist militants in a gunfight. (Reuters)

Four suspected Islamist militants have been killed in a gunfight with Yemen’s army and allied tribal fighters in the impoverished country’s turbulent south, which has become al-Qaeda’s most formidable base, a local official said on Saturday.

Up to 50 militant fighters were battling government forces and their tribal allies near the town of Jaar, which the army recaptured in June after a 15 month occupation by Ansar al-Shariah.

The Islamist movement seized control of large swathes of southern Yemen during the turmoil caused by mass anti-government protests last year and gave shelter to al-Qaeda, flying the international militant group's flag in captured towns.