Al-Qaeda chief 'killed in Yemen'

Sanaa, 13 Jan-(ANA)-The alleged leader of an al-Qaeda cell in Yemen has been killed in an exchange of fire with security forces, according to a provincial governor.

Abdullah Mehdar is said to have been the leader of an al-Qaeda group in the province of Shabwa, 375 miles (600km) east of the capital, Sanaa.

Reports said four other members of the same cell had been arrested.

In another incident, two soldiers were reportedly killed in an ambush near Ataq, the provincial capital.

The governor of Shabwa, Ali Hassan al-Ahmadi, said: "Abdullah Mehdar was killed last night by security forces, which had besieged the house he hid in." (ANA)

FA/ANA/13 January 2010---