According to Xinhua Agency , At least two soldiers of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) were killed and four injured Saturday during a landmine explosion in Yemen's southern province of Abyan, a security official Said .

The security source said on condition of anonymity that "a landmine explosion struck a military patrol in Abyan's provincial capital of Zinjibar city, killing two soldiers and destroying their vehicle at the scene."

He said that "the soldiers were driving their vehicle in a deserted area in eastern Zinjibar where landmines planted before were not completely cleared."

"Some areas in Abyan are still dangerous as many landmines had been planted to target the army forces there," he added.

Heavy forces of the STC were deployed in several areas of Abyan in an attempt to confront any advance for the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces from neighboring Shabwa province.

The STC forces seized the strategic southern city of Aden and other neighboring main cities including Abyan following deadly clashes with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces last month.

Militants of the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch are active in the southern regions and use roadside bombs to target Yemeni government officials as well as the STC security forces, taking advantage of the recent security vacuum in the impoverished Arab country.