Yemeni special security forces on Thursday regained control of four government buildings which were seized over the past few days by armed tribal rebels loyal to opposition leader Sadiq al-Ahmar in the capital, the Defense Ministry said.

"Following fierce battles overnight with armed forces led by the opposition tribal leader, Yemeni Special Security Forces on Thursday managed to regain control over the official Saba news agency, the state-run Survey Authority, Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Tourism," the ministry's online website said.

It said the special forces are continuing to cleanse the whole area of Hassaba district in downtown Sanaa from what it dubbed " the armed gang" of opposition tribal leader Sadiq al-Ahmar.

Al-Ahmar, chieftain of northern powerful Hashid tribes confederations, has been waging pitched street battles against the government forces since May 23 after President Ali Abdullah Saleh refused to sign a Gulf-brokered deal with the opposition to ease him out of the power.

On Wednesday, the Yemeni government announced the special security forces also regained control over the Ministry of Local Administrative, a branch office of the Ministry of Agriculture, Hassaba Police Station.

It said that after those government buildings were free, the security forces found many dead bodies of northern Houthi-led Shiite rebels inside the buildings.

The 11-day long battles in downtown the capital Sanaa have left hundreds of people dead and many others injured.

Saleh has also faced street protests since February that rocked major provinces to demand immediate end to his 33-year rule.