Yemeni security forces captured two al-Qaida suspects, one of whom is in charge of the group media, in Taiz city and killed three others in Marib province, an official of the Interior ministry told Xinhua on Thursday.
"Khalid Baterfi, a leader in al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and also is responsible for the group's media, was captured along with another militant during an intelligence operation on Thursday in the southern province of Taiz, 200 km south of the capital Sanaa," the official said on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, another three al-Qaida militants were killed and several others were wounded when they attempted to storm a security checkpoint in Ruwaik area in Marib province, about 173 km northeast of Sanaa, the official added.
The AQAP has a strong presence in Yemen as the country's southern and eastern provinces witnessed a series of terrorist attacks targeting scores of senior intelligence officials, security and army personnel since 2009.