Yemeni army clashes with al-Qaeda in raid

Ten Yemeni soldiers were wounded in clashes with al-Qaeda suspects as they tried to arrest a militant leader over last week's murder of a top officer, tribal and medical sources said.

Yemeni government forces clashed with al-Qaeda members in the province of Marib, east of the capital Sanaa.

The troops raided the home of Hassan Abdullah Saleh al-Uqaily in al-Himma, using tank guns in an attempt to arrest him. The suspect managed to escape but clashes broke out with a group of his supporters during which 10 soldiers were wounded, a medical official said.

Uqaily's home was completely destroyed in the clashes.

Colonel Mohammed Saleh al-Shaief and two of his bodyguards were killed on Saturday when al-Qaeda militants opened fire on their convoy south of the eastern city of Marib, military and tribal sources said.

Shaief was travelling in a convoy to inspect military forces stationed in the Safar oilfield when the attack occurred south of Marib. A local source identified Uqaily -- a 28-year-old on a government wanted list -- as the one who led the attack.

Marib is one of the strongholds of al-Qaeda in Yemen, ancestral homeland of its leader Osama bin Laden.

Three Americans charged

The clashes come as three of a group of at least 12 Americans being detained in Yemen are being held on terrorism charges, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday.

"There are three Americans who are currently in Yemeni custody on terrorism charges. We are still seeking information... We are not aware of any new arrests of Americans," said spokesman Philip Crowley.

His comments came a day after the State Department said 12 U.S. citizens were in Yemeni custody, without offering details of why they were being held.

His confirmation of the detentions Monday came amid press reports of a wave of arrests of foreigners in Yemen, home of an active al-Qaeda affiliate called al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

The other nine Americans are being held on non-terrorism-related charges, Crowley said, adding that US consular authorities in Sanaa had been able to meet with the Americans in detention.

There are three Americans who are currently in Yemeni custody on terrorism charges. We are still seeking information.

Philip Crowley, U.S. State Department