ABYAN (Debriefer)--Dozens of fighters were killed and injured when the government and southern transitional council forces fought fierce battles in Yemen's southern province of Abyan on Friday.
The battles took place in the areas of Al-Tariyah and Al-Sheikh Salim east of the capital city of Zinjibar, local sources said.
Haitham Al-Shabahi, chief of a squadron in the third support brigade of the council, was among those killed, the sources said, adding that military vehicles and equipment from both sides were destroyed as well.
The violence comes amid faltering talks to form a new government in accordance with the Riyadh agreement which was signed last year.
Political sources familiar with the talks said some members in a Saudi-led coalition fighting in the country are pressuring to amend military and security provisions in the agreement, according to the New Arab.
The Yemeni government insists on implementing the military and security part of the agreement before forming the government, a demand which the UAE-backed council is objecting to.
