Medical officials in Yemen say a military air raid hit a vehicle in volatile southern Abyan province Wednesday, killing four civilians and wounding 12 others.

The Yemeni army is battling hundreds of Islamist militants affiliated to al-Qaida who have seized control of several areas in the province, including the southern city of Zinjibar and smaller towns.

Yemeni officials said Tuesday government forces killed nine Islamist fighters in clashes near Zinjibar, the capital of the volatile province.

A military spokesman said Tuesday the fighting also injured four other al-Qaida associated militants.

In the southern port of Aden, security sources said Wednesday a bomb had killed an army colonel the day before.

Yemen is battling al-Qaida-linked militants in the south amid political turmoil stemming from a popular uprising against President Ali Abdullah Saleh that began in February.