Yemen's navy says it has stopped a suicide attack by a speed boat approaching one of its vessels.
The navy Sunday said a boat suspected of carrying explosives was heading toward a Yemeni warship off the coast of volatile Abyan province late Saturday. A Yemeni commander, Ruwais Mujawar, said navy ships fired on the boat and sank it after it ignored several warning shots.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but al-Qaida has used boats in the past to attack warships.
In October 2000, an al-Qaida attack on the USS Cole Navy destroyer in the port of Aden killed 17 American sailors.
Yemeni security forces continue to battle al-Qaida insurgents in Abyan province, where the militants have captured areas including the provincial capital, Zinjibar, and the town of Jaar.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.