Yemeni officials say a suicide bomber has killed nine soldiers and wounded more than 20 outside an army camp in the country's volatile south.

Officials are blaming al-Qaida for Sunday's attack in the city of Aden. They say the bomber exploded his vehicle as a military convoy was leaving for nearby Abyan province to assist in fighting al-Qaida-linked militants.

No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Yemen's south has erupted in nearly daily violence since militants in recent months seized control of areas in Abyan province, including the provincial capital Zinjibar and the town of Jaar.

Last week, residents of southern Yemen said government forces and their tribal allies had killed at least 20 Islamist militants in two days of battles to retake control of parts of Abyan.