Two were killed, one soldier, and seven others injured in the clashes that erupted early today between the security forces and armed people, believed to be separatists, in Yemen's Southern Lahj Province.

Local sources were quoted as saying that the clashes, in which medium and heavy weapons were used, were triggered by setting up security checkpoints between Al-Habilain and Habeel Jabr areas in Radfan district.

Also, medical sources at the Radfan Hospital said the hospital received three people seriously wounded, one of whom died an hour later.

But a source at the separatist movement said two elements of the movement and two soldiers were killed and four wounded people are still at mountains and could not be taken to hospital.

Reinforcements from both sides are continuing to arrive in the fighting site amid attacking military posts with missiles.