At least two civilians were killed and six others wounded in air raids carried out by the Yemeni air forces against al-Qaida targets in the southern province of Abyan on Saturday, a local medic told Xinhua.

A medic at the al-Razi hospital in Abyan told Xinhua that at least two civilians were killed and six of others were seriously injured during air raids launched by the government warplanes targeting al-Qaida hideouts in the al-Makhzan area.

The air forces for the second time mistakenly bombed residential buildings nearby al-Qaida targets, according to local residents.

Earlier the day, local army officer told Xinhua that the Yemen- based al-Qaida held 50 soldiers as hostage after fierce battles in Zinjibar city, the provincial capital of Abyan.

The al-Qaida militants have apparently taken advantage of the absence of security forces which were preoccupied with dealing with the five-month unrest demanding the resignation of country's president Ali Abdullah Saleh.