Yemeni officials say an air raid targeting al-Qaida-linked militants in the country's south has mistakenly killed at least eight pro-government tribesmen.

Officials say the tribesmen were battling militants Friday east of Zinjibar, the capital of volatile Abyan province, at the time of the air raid.

Meanwhile, authorities said clashes in the south killed at least six members of the army and at least five militants.

Al-Qaida-linked militants have seized areas in southern Yemen during the six-month-old uprising pressing for President Ali Abdullah Saleh's resignation.

Washington fears the militants will take advantage of Yemen's anti-government unrest to expand their haven in the country and plot attacks against the West.

Mr. Saleh remains in Saudi Arabia where he is recovering from injuries sustained in a June attack on his presidential compound.