Suspected Al-Qaeda rebels ambushed an army vehicle and killed five soldiers near the Yemeni town of Marib, east of the capital Sanaa, on Friday, a security official told AFP.

"The vehicle was ambushed with an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) and all five soldiers inside died," the official said. "Al-Qaeda is suspected of carrying out this attack."

The ambush came a day after security forces killed 19 demonstrators opposed to embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh over a 24-hour period and amid renewed international criticism of his government for using excessive force.