Yemeni militants seize control of weapons factory

---

FE Team | Published: March 28, 2011 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

---

SANAA, Mar 27 (AP): Islamic militants seized control of a weapons factory and a nearby town in Yemen's south Sunday, said a witness and security officials, as political turmoil around the country causes security to unravel. Yemen is a key U.S. ally in the fight against al-Qaida, and the fall of the town and factory is another blow to efforts to rein in the group that has several hundred fighters scattered through the country. The country, which is plagued by a tenacious franchise of al-Qaida hiding out in its remote provinces, has also been rocked in recent weeks by popular protests against the long-serving president. The militants set up checkpoints around the small factory and the town of al-Husn, patrolling the streets and searching cars, said resident Wahib Abdul-Qader. The militants are also battling security forces for control of a nearby Khanfar mountain that holds a radio station and a presidential guest house, said Saleh al-Shamsi, the head of security in the southern province of Abyan. The area is known as a stronghold of al-Qaida in Yemen. On Saturday, militants also took control of the town of Jaar, al-Shamsi added. Residents have pushed out police and soldiers in other towns in the province, and created their own local militias to protect themselves, said al-Shamsi.