FACTBOX-Security developments in Yemen

Source: Reuters, 11/10/2010

Yemen is trying to quell a resurgent arm of al Qaeda that has increased attacks on Western and regional targets.

It is also trying to cement a truce with Shi'ite rebels to end a civil war in the north that has raged on and off since 2004, and to end a separatist rebellion in the south.
Following are security developments in Yemen this month:

(* denotes new or updated item): * ABYAN, Oct 10 - Gunmen riding motorcycles killed an intelligence officer in the southern province of Abyan, a security official said. He said the officer was one of 54 security officials al Qaeda's regional wing had threatened to kill in a statement distributed last month.
* LAHJ, Oct 10 - A gunman was killed and two soldiers were injured in a clash in the southern province of Lahj, a local official said.

* HADRAMOUT, Oct 9 - Masked gunmen killed an intelligence officer in a market west of Mukalla, centre of the southeastern Hadramout province, late on Friday, a security official told Reuters. Al Qaeda fighters were believed to have carried out the attack, the top provincial security official told the Defence Ministry website.

SANAA, Oct 9 - Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula said in statements posted on the Internet on Saturday that it was behind a Sept 25 attack on security forces in the capital Sanaa, and two earlier raids in the southern province of Lahj.

ABYAN, Oct 9 - Gunmen attacked a security patrol in the restive town of Lawdar in southern Abyan province, injuring two soldiers, a local official said.

SANAA, Oct 6 - A rocket attack in the capital Sanaa targeted a vehicle carrying the deputy chief of the British mission in Yemen and a gunman opened fire at an Austrian-owned oil and gas firm, killing a Frenchman.