Al-Qaeda leader, 6 militants killed in Yemen

The military and security troops have killed an al-Qaedaleader called "Abu Muslim al-Uzbeki", an official source said Thursday.The troops backed by aircrafts killed also six other militants of al-Qaeda anddestroyed three vehicles, the source said, adding that many militants were arrested,including one surveillance operative. Mines planted by terrorists in streets and main entrances of al-Maagala have beenremoved, he said.The source said that the military and security unites in cooperation with popularcommittees managed to clear a wide area of al-Maagala area in Abyan province,expecting that the whole area would be under control in the coming hours.The military and security troops launched a major offensive on Tuesday aimed atclearing al-Qaida militants from their remaining hideouts in Shabwa and Abyanprovinces.