Gunmen in Yemen kill intelligence officer

(AP) Gunmen in Yemen kill intelligence officer
By AHMED AL-HAJ
Associated Press
SANAA, Yemen
Yemeni security officials say two gunmen on a motorbike have shot and killed an intelligence officer in a southeastern province.

The officials said the officer, Mutea Baqutian, was on his way to work Saturday in Hadramawt province when the gunmen stopped his car and shot him, then fled.

The government has blamed al-Qaida militants for similar assassinations of several senior military and intelligence officials this year.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity according to regulations.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Seif, who is commander of Yemen’s central military region, said the Defense Ministry has deployed an infantry brigade in the northeastern province of Marib to stop armed tribesmen who maintain cordial ties with al-Qaida from attacking oil pipelines and power generating stations, as well as to counter al-Qaida militants.