Thirty killed in Yemen protests

Yemeni soldiers battled Islamic militants today in an attempt to drive them from several southern towns under the control of hundreds of the fighters. The clashes killed 30 people on both sides, officials said.

In an unusual twist, the army commander leading the campaign to drive back the Islamists is among several top military figures who have turned against the country’s president and thrown their support behind the massive protest movement pushing for the autocratic leader to quit.