Yemen uprising......38 soldiers killed by by suicide bomber.

May 21, 6:04 AM EDT


Death toll in Yemen bombing rises to 38 soldiers

By AHMED AL-HAJ
Associated Press













SANAA, Yemen (AP) -- Officials say the death toll from a suicide bombing at a military parade rehearsal in the capital Sanaa has risen to 38 troops.

The military officials say the Monday's bombing near Sanaa's presidential palace is one of the deadliest attacks in the city in months.

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

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

SANAA, Yemen (AP) - A suicide bomber blew himself up at a military parade drill in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Monday, killing at least 20 soldiers and wounding scores of others in what was one of the deadliest attacks in the city in months, officials and witnesses said.

The attacker was a soldier who was taking part in the drill, lining up with fellow troops at a main square in the capital, not far from the presidential palace, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The bomber detonated his explosives minutes before the arrival of the defense 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 on Tuesday.

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 U.S. Coast Guard trainers came under attack on Sunday by militants belonging to an al-Qaida front group in the Red Sea port city of Hodeida.

The three Americans were traveling in a car near their hotel when the militants pulled up in another vehicle and sprayed them with machinegun fire. One was injured, the officials said Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

In Sanaa, no one immediately claimed responsibility for Monday'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.

Saleh stepped down in February as part of a U.S.-backed power-transfer deal brokered by Gulf Arab countries. It gave Saleh 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 from Saleh's family members and loyalists suspected of hindering reforms.

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 Saleh.

Since the revolt erupted, inspired by other Arab Spring uprisings, al-Qaida militants overran large swaths of territory and several towns and cities in the south, pushing out government forces and establishing their own rule.

In recent weeks, the army has launched a concerted effort to uproot the militants from their strongholds - and is closely coordinating with a small contingent of U.S. troops who are helping guide the operations from inside Yemen.

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8:32pm UK, Monday May 21, 2012

Al Qaeda has killed at least 96 people and wounded more than 220 in a suicide bomb attack on a military parade in the Yemeni capital Sanaa.
The bomber, who was dressed in military uniform, blew himself up in the middle of the battalion of soldiers as they were rehearsing for a parade the following day.

A statement from Ansar al Sharia, a Yemeni group affiliated with al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), claimed responsibility for the attack.



The scene is combed for evidence

The group threatened further attacks on the security services to avenge military campaigns against militants in southern Yemen if the offensive was not stopped.

But President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi vowed to press on despite the "sacrifices".

"Our armed forces and security forces will become tougher and more determined in pursuing terrorists," he told state news agency Saba.

"The war on terror will continue until it is completely destroyed regardless of the sacrifices," he said.

Yemen's defence minister and chief of staff were present at the rehearsals but neither were hurt. They had arrived just a few minutes earlier to greet the troops.

The parade was to mark the 22nd anniversary of the unification of north and south Yemen and was due to be attended by the country's president.

The soldiers were rehearsing in Sanaa's al Sabeen Square where the government often holds large military events, close to the presidential palace.

The attack is the most deadly in Yemen since President Hadi took power in February with a pledge to fight al Qaeda's growing presence in the county.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon condemned the attack as a "criminal act".

He called on "all in Yemen to reject the use of violence in all its forms and manifestations" and to "play a full and constructive role in implementing Yemen's political transition agreement".

"This criminal act cannot be justified by any cause," he said, adding:"Its perpetrators must be held accountable."



Soldiers injured in the attack

The blast ripped through the area, killing more than 90 soldiers and injuring hundreds more.

Those that survived the blast ran to safety in fear of another attack.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and ferried the injured to seven hospitals in the capital.

"This is a real massacre," said Ahmed Sobhi, one of the soldiers who witnessed the explosion.

"There are piles of torn body parts, limbs, and heads. This is unbelievable. I am still shaking. The place turned into hell. I thought this only happens in movies."

Another soldier, Khaled Ali, added: "In the mayhem, we were all running in all directions. I saw the guards of the minister surrounding him and forming a human cordon. They were firing in the air."

The attack comes 10 days into a massive army offensive against the terror group in Yemen's restive southern Abyan province.

Al Qaeda have seized control of a string of towns and cities there in attacks launched since last May.

Reporting from the Gulf, Sky's chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay, said: "The country's new president, Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, has pledged to take the fight to the militants.

"They have been growing in strength and are now seen as the most active al Qaeda branch in the world.

"It is believed this attack was designed to send a message to the government that al Qaeda has the ability and the will to fight back.

"It is an indicator that clearing al Qaeda out will be a long and bloody process."