Armed conflicts in Yemen’s north and south continue and are unlikely to end when the political transition is complete. Yemeni military forces have been unable to defeat al Qaeda-linked militants in the south, who have taken control of territory in Abyan governorate.

The younger brother of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s leader, Nasser al Wahayshi, was killed outside of Zinjibar. Abdul Rahman al Wahayshi was among five al Qaeda-linked militants who were killed. A local tribesman confirmed his death, which was originally reported by Yemeni security and military officials.

Fighting is ongoing between al Qaeda-linked militants and Yemeni troops in Abyan governorate. The fighting has occurred in Wadi Hassan and Bajdar as well as in Zinjibar and al Kod. A Yemeni military official reported that ten militants and five soldiers were killed Wednesday in Zinjibar. Twenty-one other soldiers were injured. Sixteen militants and four soldiers were killed Tuesday. Reports said that hundreds of militants arrived from Azzan in Shabwah and other areas to reinforce positions in Zinjibar.

Al Houthi rebels and Salafist fighters used medium- and large-caliber weapons in Kitaf, according to a local tribal leader. Kitaf is about 70 km (40 miles) east of Sa’ada. A spokesman for the Salafist Dar al Hadith school reported that at least 71 people have been killed since mid-October in fighting with the al Houthi rebels. The Russian foreign ministry issued a statement saying that four Russian citizens were killed in clashes in north Yemen over the past few weeks. The statement noted that 60 Islamist extremists had been killed, the Russians among them, in the fighting surrounding the Salafist Dar al Hadith school.

Anti-government protests calling for the trial of President Ali Abdullah Saleh continue in Yemen. A protest march from Taiz to Sana’a, known as the “Life March,” began Tuesday. The UN envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar, reported that President Ali Abdullah Saleh “still requires serious medical treatment” not available in Yemen.

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