Officials in Yemen say clashes in the south have killed two soldiers and wounded several civilians.

Details of Thursday's violence in the southern city of Taiz are unclear. Tribesmen have been battling forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh in the city, where protests against the embattled president have raged for five months.

The latest violence comes days after Yemen's top opposition general called for foreign intervention to help avert a regional crisis.

General Ali Mohsen defected from President Ali Abdullah Saleh and joined protesters in March. He called Tuesday for the United States, the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council to pressure Mr. Saleh to step down.

The general said he supports a Council plan under which Mr. Saleh would cede power to a transitional government after 30 days. He told CNN Tuesday that the Yemeni people want full implementation of the agreement that would push Mr. Saleh from power and hold elections for a new government.

Washington and Riyadh have failed to pressure Mr. Saleh into signing the Gulf-sponsored initiative, which he has backed out of three times at the last minute.

Opposition activists have staged protests on an almost-daily basis over the past five months. They have been demanding an end to Mr. Saleh's 33-year autocratic rule.

Mr. Saleh departed last month to Saudi Arabia, where he is recovering from wounds suffered during a June 3 bomb blast at his palace mosque.