Islam Times - Intelligence official killed in southern Yemen

Islam Times - A senior intelligence official was killed by unidentified gunmen in southeastern Yemen on Tuesday, the Defence Ministry said.

Colonel Ahmed Barmada, deputy chief of political security in the city of Mukalla, was killed on his way to work. Provincial sources said al-Qaeda could be behind the attack, reported the September 26 website, which is affiliated with the ministry.

Insurgents linked to the terrorist network took advantage of a popular uprising last year and strengthened their presence in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country, mainly in the south.

The Yemeni army, backed by US drones, has since April been pursuing a high-profile campaign against al-Qaeda-linked radicals.