The latest fighting to uproot al Qaida from southern Yemen has killed 13 militants, as well as four soldiers and two militiamen fighting alongside the army, military officials said.

Yemeni army officials say heavy clashes overnight between the military and al Qaida-linked militants in the south have killed 63 people, bringing the two-day death toll to 127.

Al-Qaida-linked militants staged a dawn attack on an army post in south Yemen today, setting off clashes which left 23 dead on both sides, Yemeni army officials said.

Yemen's ailing President Ali Abdullah Saleh called for an end to months of street protests seeking his ousting and urged dialogue during the holy month of Ramadan to end the crisis.