75 killed in battles between troops, opposition militants in north Yemen

"As many as 40 soldiers of the Republican Guards stationed in Samaa military base in Arhab district were killed when they confronted an attack by armed tribesmen of the opposition coalition Joint Meeting Parties (JMP), who managed to control some eastern parts of the most powerful military base earlier Thursday and held 50 soldiers as hostages," the official said, requesting anonymity.

"The soldiers backed with Yemeni warplanes, however, forced the tribal militants out of the base, killing up to 35 members of the opposition armed group," he added.

Earlier, the ruling party's website reported that Republican Guards repelled an attack by the opposition-backed armed tribesmen and al-Qaida militants that targeted their Samaa military base, killing 30 militants.

The Defense Ministry said in a statement that the JMP armed militants were backed by heavy forces and weapons provided by defected First Armored Division, which was commanded by dissident Major General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, the half brother of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The ministry accused the opposition JMP of seeking to occupy the military base, seize Sanaa International Airport and set besiege on the northern and eastern entrances of Sanaa. Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com for full version