Yemeni troops and rebels in deadly clashes in south

At least one person has been killed in clashes between the government and secessionist rebels in southern Yemen.

Government forces tried to recapture a municipal building occupied by separatists, reports said.

The building in Tor al-Baha has been occupied for months by armed rebels, officials told journalists.

Gunfights also broke out between police and demonstrators in the town of Daleh where officials said a number of people died, AFP news agency reported.

'Burning flags'

Fighting was continuing between security services in Tor al-Baha, officials told reporters.

"Large military forces launched a campaign this morning to retake the municipality building. But gunmen from the southern movement confronted them and the two sides exchanged fire," unnamed officials told news agency Reuters.

Southern separatists say their region - a separate country before 1990 - is being exploited by northern Yemen.

A truce with another rebel group in the north has allowed the government in Sanaa to turn its attention to the secessionists.

Yemen President Ali Abdallah Saleh this week offered talks with the separatist movement, but said the "separatist flag will burn" if the talks were rejected.