Yemen’s defence minister has escaped a car bomb on his motorcade that killed at least 12 other people, a day after the US-backed government said it had dealt a crushing blow to al-Qaeda by killing its regional branch’s second in command.
Witnesses said yesterday’s blast happened as Maj Gen Muhammad Nasir Ahmad’s motorcade left the prime minister’s office in Sanaa after a cabinet meeting. The interior minister said seven security guards and five civilians were killed and 12 people were wounded.
Aides said the minister was unhurt and had told prime minister Mohammed Basindwa he was safe.
Officials said the attack was the fourth attempt on Maj Gen’s Ahmad’s life since a new government was formed last December. – (Reuters)