Five Yemenis have been killed during clashes between security forces and an armed group affiliated with al-Qaeda extremists in Aben province. Fighting broke out after al-Qaeda militants attempted to storm a checkpoint run by local public committees militia, security sources have told Arabstoday. Clashes killed two militia members, while five others were injured. Another three al-Qaeda militants were also killed in the fighting. An al-Qaeda suicide bomber has meanwhile attacked militia headquarters in the Yemeni city of Loder, 150 kilometres north-east of Abyan’s provincial capital Zinjibar. No confirmed casualties have been reported.