Yemen's branch of al-Qaeda has confirmed the death of a senior leader, who officials say died in a bloody family feud, AP reported.

A statement posted on a militant website by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula on Monday, February 20 said that government agents "motivated by the hireling regime in Sanaa" were responsible for the death of its "emir", Tariq al-Dahab.

It did not comment beyond that on claims by officials and tribal leaders that al-Dahab had been slain Thursday at his home in southern Yemen by his half brother Hizam. Hizam and 15 others were then reported to have been killed by Dahab's followers.

The clashes came days before February 21 elections to approve a new leader to replace President Ali Abdullah Saleh. A year-long uprising has sought to push Saleh from power.