Clashes Monday between Al-Qaeda suspects and Yemeni troops in the southeastern province of Hadramawt left nine people dead, three of them soldiers.

Clashes Monday between Al-Qaeda suspects and Yemeni troops in the southeastern province of Hadramawt left nine people dead, three of them soldiers, the defense ministry reported.

"Six Al-Qaeda terrorists were killed in clashes with soldiers at an army checkpoint at the western entrance to the town of Seyun," said the statement on the ministry's news website 26sep.net.

Three soldiers were killed in the clashes, said the ministry.

Al-Qaeda militants have stepped up attacks on security forces from strongholds in south and southeast Yemen, where they remain active despite being weakened.

Three policemen were killed in a similar attack on November 24, also in Seyun.