Bomber kills 96 at army drill

AT LEAST 96 soldiers were killed and dozens of others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a military parade drill in they emeni capital Sanaa yesterday.

Military officials said the bombing, which took place near the presidential palace, is one of the deadliest attacks in the city in years.

They said the attacker was a soldier taking part in the drill, lining up with fellow troops at a main square in the capital.

At least 100 others were injured in the attack, they added.

The bomber detonated his explosives minutes before the arrival of the defence minister and the chief of staff, who were expected to greet the troops, the officials said.

The drill was a rehearsal for a parade for the celebration of Yemen’s National Day today.

The attack left a scene of carnage, with scores of bleeding soldiers lying on the ground as ambulances rushed to the scene.

Meanwhile, Yemeni security officials said three US Coast Guard trainers came under attack by militants belonging to an al Qaida front group in the Red Sea port city of Hodeida on Sunday.

The three Americans were travelling in a car near their hotel when the militants pulled up in another vehicle and sprayed them with machine gun fire. One was injured, the officials said.

In Sanaa, no one immediately claimed responsibility for yesterday’s suicide bombing, but the soldiers targeted were mostly troops from Yemen’s Central Security, a paramilitary force commanded by Yahya Saleh, a nephew of ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Mr Saleh stepped down in February as part of a Us-backed power-transfer deal brokered by Gulf Arab countries. It gave him immunity from prosecution in return for relinquishing his power.

Since then, the new president, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, has pledged to restructure the army and purge it of Mr Saleh’s family members and loyalists suspected of hindering reforms.

Mr Hadi has also vowed to step up the fight against al Qaida, which expanded its foothold after exploiting the political and security turmoil in the wake of the uprising against Mr Saleh.

Picture: AP. A policeman collects evidence at the site of the bombing.