'Al-Qaida' takes south Yemeni city

ADEN, Yemen - More than 200 suspected al-Qaida gunmen have wrested control of the south Yemeni city of Zinjibar after heavy fighting with security forces that left 16 dead, an official said on Sunday.

The Yemeni opposition immediately accused embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh of having allowed Zinjibar, capital of Abyan province, to fall to the gunmen to raise fears concerning al-Qaida and boost his flagging international support.

The suspected al-Qaida fighters "were able to gain control of the city of Zinjibar ... and took over all government facilities", except for the headquarters of the 25th mechanized brigade, which is besieged by militants, the security official said.