Yemeni shelling kills 20 militants

Residents of a town in southern Yemen overrun by radical Islamists say government shelling has killed more than 20 militants in the past two days.

Walid al-Hawshadi said he saw militants driving the bodies out of Jaar for burial.

Other residents gave similar accounts.

More than five months of mass protests seeking to oust long-time President Ali Abdullah Saleh have shaken security across Yemen.

Radical groups linked to al-Qaida have overrun at least two towns in the country’s south and government forces have been trying to force them out.

The US fears al-Qaida and other radical groups could exploit chaos in Yemen to step up operations.