Nine killed in Yemen elections

Violence in southern Yemen has marred an election to replace veteran leader Ali Abdullah Saleh, the BBC reports.

At least nine people, including a child, were killed in violence which had been widely expected after separatists called for a voter boycott.

Half of Aden's polling stations closed early as a result but voting in the capital, Sanaa, was calm and orderly.

The poll comes a year after violent anti-government protests erupted in the Arabian peninsula's poorest country.

Voters are due to rubber-stamp Vice-President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi - the only candidate.