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Yemen army base seized by Al-Qaeda linked fighters Yemen army base seized by Al-Qaeda linked fighters
(about 3 hours later)
Al-Qaeda linked fighters have seized an army base in southern Yemen, militants and officials say. Al-Qaeda linked fighters have captured an army base in southern Yemen, militants and officials say, as the UN warns the country is "collapsing".
The Ansar al-Sharia group said they set off a bomb at the base in the central town Bayhan before capturing soldiers.The Ansar al-Sharia group said they set off a bomb at the base in the central town Bayhan before capturing soldiers.
The attack comes amid fears that the country is plunging into chaos after Shia rebels took over the capital. Last week, Shia Houthis ousted the government in the capital Sanaa.
Shia Houthis have been expanding south from their northern stronghold, prompting clashes with al-Qaeda in Yemen (AQAP) and other Sunni groups. They have been expanding south from their stronghold in the north, putting them in conflict with al-Qaeda in Yemen (AQAP) and other Sunni groups.
The United Nations has warned that Yemen is on the brink of civil war. "Yemen is collapsing before our eyes. We cannot stand by and watch," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon told the Security Council.
The base is in Shabwa province, an al-Qaeda stronghold. It is reportedly home to more than 1,000 troops. The UN's envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar, warned that Yemen was at a crossroads between "civil war and disintegration".
He also said the instability there could help the re-emergence of AQAP, one of the most active al-Qaeda branches.
The army base seized on Thursday is in Shabwa province, an al-Qaeda stronghold. It is reportedly home to more than 1,000 troops.
The militants captured heavy weaponry when they took the base, one official told the AFP news agency.The militants captured heavy weaponry when they took the base, one official told the AFP news agency.
Tribal mediators were trying to convince the group to withdraw, the official added.Tribal mediators were trying to convince the group to withdraw, the official added.
Last week, the Houthis dissolved parliament and announced the formation of an interim government. The Houthis moves last week - dissolving parliament and announcing a new interim government - have been called a "coup" by critics.
The move was widely condemned, with critics calling the actions a "coup".
The US, UK and France have said they are closing their embassies in Yemen due to the deteriorating security situation there.The US, UK and France have said they are closing their embassies in Yemen due to the deteriorating security situation there.