Fierce clashes continued on Tuesday between al-Qaeda militants and army troopers in the southern trouble-torn province of Abyan, leaving at least four killed.

Al-Qaeda militants carried out an offensive on an army unit stationed in Abyan's provincial capital of Zinjubar, however, the army managed to repel the attack and incur al-Qaeda great losses, military source told Yemen Post, requesting anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press.

The army used heavy weapons in the clashes, including artillery and tanks, the source added.

The initial accounts indicate that at least 3 militants were killed in the clashes, but locals assert that Yesterday's death toll is much more.

Al-Qaeda has strengthened its foothold in the southern provinces of the fragmented-state, apparently taking advantage of the distracted government.

Elsewhere, an army trooper was killed and another badly wounded in a passerby shooting by al-Qaeda militants in the southern Province of Lahj.

Unprecedented massive popular protests calling for an end to the 33-year-long autocratic rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, combined with al-Qaeda anarchy in the south and Shiite insurgency in the far north have rocked Yemen to the bone, leaving hundreds killed, pushing an already struggling economy to the brink of collapse and triggering a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

Under enormous pressure from within and out, Saleh signed a deal under which he relinquished power to Vice President Abdu Rabu Manosur Hadi, the consensus candidate for the forthcoming presidential elections set to be held on February 21, in exchange for immunity from prosecution.

The embattled President has left Yemen for USA to receive further medical treatment for wounds and burns inflicted in the infamous June assassination attempt.