Explosion kills three near Yemeni base

An explosion rocked a Yemeni district close to a military base early this morning, killing three people, according to witnesses…

An explosion rocked a Yemeni district close to a military base early this morning, killing three people, according to witnesses and security officials.

The witnesses claimed the blast was caused by a missile that blew up in the Beir Ahmed district of the southern port city of Aden at about 1 a.m.

Security officials confirmed an explosion in Aden, but declined to say what caused it or confirm any casualties.

Witnesses said that three people walking in the street at the time were killed by the blast, which shattered windows and left a deep crater. It was heard across the city, the witnesses said.

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The security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they did not believe the blast was related to terrorism and were investigating the cause.

Aden is a strategic port on the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula. In October 2000, suicide attackers thought linked to al-Qaida rammed a bomb-laden boat into the USS Cole in Aden port, killing 17 American sailors.

AP