Clashes between the Yemen military and tribesmen over the recurrent sabotage of vital oil pipelines in the south have killed a senior army officer and three armed tribesmen.
A military unit and tribesmen exchanged gunfire as troops headed to secure and repair a damaged pipeline in the city of Marib.
An official accused tribesmen of sabotage and supporting ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh who was removed from power after a year-long uprising in 2012.
Friday’s clashes erupted after the Yemeni military led a campaign to stop attacks on oil pipelines, which cost the country nearly $15million a day, according to government figures.