Anti-government tribesman in Yemen have shot down a government warplane north of the capital, Sana'a.

The jet went down Wednesday about 40 kilometers from Sana'a, in an area where armed tribesmen have been battling forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Tribal sources said fighters shot down the plane using anti-aircraft weapons and captured the pilot.

On Monday tribesman seized a base in the area operated by Yemen's elite Republican Guard. The fighters killed a commander and captured 30 soldiers in the attack.