Yemeni civilians caught up in fighting

Tens of thousands of civilians are trapped and urgently need help, the Red Cross says, as the Yemeni army, backed by the US, battles with Islamist militants in the south of the country.

The army is trying to retake towns in the southern province of Abyan seized by militants in last year's revolt against Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former president.

The US has stepped up drone strikes against the militants, whom it suspects are part of an al-Qa'ida branch that is one of its main global security concerns.