Death toll reaches 127 from Yemen clashes

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.

The officials say the fighting that broke out in the town of Lawder early on Monday spilled over into Tuesday, with the army shelling militant hideouts in an effort to prevent them from sending reinforcements.

The officials say 56 militants, four soldiers and three tribal fighters were killed overnight.

They added that militants also attacked an army post on Tuesday along the border of Shabwa and Marib provinces, killing 11 people.

Al Qaida’s Yemeni branch has exploited the country’s political turmoil to seize territory in the south of the impoverished Arab nation.