Almotamar.net - An engineering team of the armed forces has cleared a minefield planted by al-Qaeda terrorists in Saeed and Dhalah areas in Shabwa province.

A security source said that the minefield was planted in order to obstruct the progress of military and security forces, who are fighting against al-Qaeda in Shabwa and Abyan provinces.

The Army, backed by popular committees, launched an offensive last Tuesday for the purpose of clearing al-Qaida militants from their remaining hideouts in both provinces.

According to military officials, dozens of al-Qaeda fighters, including leaders, have been killed or arrested. Many of them were foreigners, including "Abu Islam al-Shaishani", a Chechnian national, and "Abu Muslim al-Uzbeki", officials said, both killed last week.