ADEN, Yemen - Yemen said on Sunday 37 al Qaida fighters had been killed in heavy clashes between the army and the militants in the southern Shabwa province.

The state news agency Saba quoted a military source as saying most of those killed in the fighting on Sunday were Saudis, Afghans, Somalis and Chechens and other nationalities. The source also said the army destroyed a number of vehicles and weapons belonging to the militants.