Yemeni army arrests al-Qaida leader

A regional governor in Yemen says the army has arrested an al-Qaida leader following a shoot-out with security forces that killed three soldiers and two civilians.

Governor Naji bin Ali al-Zayedi of Marib province says troops stopped a car at a checkpoint. He says men fired from the car when soldiers asked for identification. A firefight ensued, killing three soldiers and two civilians. Nine others were injured.

Al-Zayedi said Tuesday that the army arrested Mohammed Abdallah Maouda, an al-Qaida leader wanted by Yemeni security for his suspected role in attacking army posts and bombing oil facilities.

The shoot-out took place Monday.

Yemen is the Arab world's most impoverished nation and has become a haven for al-Qaida militants.