Six killed in attack on Yemen market

The bomb was planted at the entrance of the Qat market – a mild narcotic widely used by locals in Yemen.

The attack, believed to have targeted government forces, killed three soldiers as well as civilians.

A Houthi-affiliated website suggested three bombs had exploded in the market, with the death toll standing at seven, while 15 others were injured.

The blasts were a result of "the chaos in the city which is controlled by militiamen and mercenaries," sabanews said, referring to pro-government forces.

Thirteen months of conflict has allowed extremist elements to prosper, resulting in several Islamic State group and al-Qaeda attacks targeting government forces across the country.

But the news comes as al-Qaeda militants began an operation to withdraw from two cities in Yemen's southern Abyan province on Thursday following tribal mediation to spare destruction.

The militants are expected to completely withdraw from Zinjibar and the nearby city of Jaar within the next week but have warned any attacks would halt the operation.

As part of the deal, weapons are expected to be left behind as the militants pull back towards the mountainous region which separates Abyan from the provinces of Shabwa and Baida, tribal sources said.

"Hundreds of al-Qaeda fighters have begun to hand over to provincial authorities public buildings which they controlled," a tribal mediator told AFP.

Pressure from locals who wanted to spare their cities and homes from destruction forced tribal leaders to mediate and arrive at an appropriate resolution, a tribal elder suggested.

Marib, controlled by government forces, is east of the capital Sanaa which has been under Houthi control since September last year.