The military and security troops have killed an al-Qaeda leader called "Abu Muslim al-Uzbeki", an official source said Thursday.

The troops backed by aircrafts killed also six other militants of al-Qaeda and destroyed three vehicles, the source said, adding that many militants were arrested, including one surveillance operative.

Mines planted by terrorists in streets and main entrances of al-Maagala have been removed, he said.

The source said that the military and security unites in cooperation with popular committees managed to clear a wide area of al-Maagala area in Abyan province, expecting that the whole area would be under control in the coming hours.

The military and security troops launched a major offensive on Tuesday aimed at clearing al-Qaida militants from their remaining hideouts in Shabwa and Abyan provinces.