Al-Qaeda gunmen shot dead four Yemeni soldiers on Wednesday when they attacked a checkpoint in the southeastern province of Hadramawt, a military officer said.

Al-Qaeda gunmen shot dead four Yemeni soldiers on Wednesday when they attacked a checkpoint in the southeastern province of Hadramawt, a military officer said.

Several other soldiers were wounded in the attack, in the area of Mayfa, AFP reported.

In another part of Hadramawt, militants continued to hold soldiers hostages at an army headquarters they had stormed on Monday in the port city of Mukalla.

The attack in Mukalla was the second major assault on the army in 10 days.