article_snippet.sent: CNN)Al Qaeda fighters attacked a prison in the coastal Yemeni city of Al Mukallah early Thursday, freeing at least 270 prisoners, a third of whom have Al Qaeda links, a senior Defense Ministry official has told CNN.
article_snippet.sent: Khaled Batarfi, a senior Al Qaeda figure, was among the escapees, officials said.
article_snippet.sent: Dozens of attackers took control of government buildings, including the coastal Yemeni city of Al Mukallah's Central Prison, Central Bank and radio station during the assault early Thursday, according to officials.
article_snippet.sent: Government troops arrived early Thursday and clashed with CNN)Al Qaeda fighters, and most of the militants fled, officials said.
article_snippet.sent: Last month, hundreds of inmates escaped from Al Mansoorah Central Prison in Aden after
highlights_snippet.sent: Al Qaeda fighters attack a prison and other government buildings, freeing many prisoners .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Government troops clash with the fighters, most of whom flee .
  