Al Qaeda attacked an army headquarters in a heavily patrolled district of Aden Wednesday, leaving 11 people dead, including three attackers, despite recent government measures to improve security, officials said.

The building targeted is located in the supposedly tightly secured coastal district of Tawahi that hosts intelligence and political police headquarters, a naval base and a presidential residence.

"A group of assailants attacked the northern part of the building, and some of them climbed the wall into the building, while others blew up a bomb-laden car at the entrance located in the west of the premises," a security official said.

"Six soldiers, three attackers and two passers-by were killed in clashes" that followed what was a two-pronged attack, a military official said.

Reinforcements from the 31st Armored Brigade stationed in Aden were dispatched to support the troops in Tawahi, the military official added.

No information was immediately available on the number of attackers.

AFP