Sana'a, Yemen  - At least five policemen and three Islamists were injured in clashes after police raided a militant stronghold in southern Yemen on Saturday, police sources said.

The sources told the German Press Agency dpa the clashes took place in Ja'ar town, nearly 600 kilometres south of the capital Sana'a.

They said that around 400 police troopers took part in the raid on the mountainous town of Abyan province.

Ja'ar is close to the Hatat mountains where armed Islamist groups are believed to take shelter frequently.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement posted on its website the raid targeted militants linked to bombings that hit local government and police buildings in Abyan.

The statement gave no further details on casualties.

Abyan governor, Ahmed al-Maisary, told the official Saba news agency that police arrested 10 wanted militants in the clampdown that lasted more than 12 hours. (dpa)