Story highlights Al Qaeda fighters attack a prison and other government buildings, freeing many prisoners

Government troops clash with the fighters, most of whom flee

Yemen is descending into chaos as a Shia-Sunni conflict draws in regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran

Sanaa, Yemen (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.

Khaled Batarfi, a senior al Qaeda figure, was among the escapees, officials said.

Dozens of attackers took control of government buildings, including the city's Central Prison, Central Bank and radio station during the assault early Thursday, according to officials.

Government troops arrived early Thursday and clashed with the al Qaeda fighters, and most of the militants fled, the officials said.

Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, shown in Berlin in 2012, fled to Saudi Arabia after his ouster.

Last month, hundreds of inmates escaped from Al Mansoorah Central Prison in Aden after clashes between Shiite Houthi rebels and forces loyal to ousted Sunni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi.

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