"Six of the most dangerous members of the network specialised in the manufacture of explosives" were arrested at Al-Alam army checkpoint, about three kilometres (two miles) northeast of Aden, said the official.

"Detonators and communications equipment were seized," he added.

Fear has mounted of a spill over by armed to the strategic port city of Aden from nearby Zinjibar, where battles have raged between alleged Al-Qaeda militants and government troops.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011