A man with explosives strapped under his army uniform killed more than 90 people in the Yemeni capital Sanaa today when he blew himself up in the midst of a military parade rehearsal.
The attack, which also wounded more than 200 people, underscored the threat Yemen faces in its fight to dislodge Islamist militants entrenched in the south and threatening vital shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
US president Barack Obama's counter-terrorism adviser, John Brennan, called Yemen's president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to convey Washington's condemnation of the attack and pledge support for Yemen, a main front in its global war on al-Qaeda.
The explosion at a military parade rehearsal in Sanaa's Sabaeen Square left scenes of carnage, with body parts strewn across a 10-lane road not far from the presidential palace."We had just finished the parade. We were saluting our commander when a huge explosion went off," said soldier Amr Habib.
"It was a gruesome attack. Many soldiers were killed and others had their arms and legs blown off."
Mr Hadi, who took over after Washington and its Saudi-led Gulf Arab allies persuaded his predecessor to step down to prevent an uprising spreading anarchy in Saudi Arabia's neighbour, vowed to step up the fight against militant strongholds in the south.
"The war on terrorism will continue until it is uprooted and annihilated completely, regardless of the sacrifices," Mr Hadi said, according to a text published by the state news agency.The defence ministry said at least 90 soldiers were killed and 222 wounded in the attack.
The al-Qaeda affiliate said it had targeted the defence minister and army commanders.Yemen's defence minister and chief of staff were both at the rehearsal for tomorrow's National Day parade - meant to celebrate Yemeni unity - but neither was hurt.Yemeni officials said Mr Hadi decided to proceed with the parade, despite the attack, but moved it to a military academy.
Exploiting political turmoil resulting from months of protests that eventually toppled former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, the militants seized swathes territories in the southern province of Abyan.Monday's attack, along with an ambush on Sunday on a US military training team, indicated their campaign could be entering a dangerous new stage in Yemen, which borders oil giant Saudi Arabia.
The United States is increasing its military support for Mr Hadi's government and the US military has itself targeted militants in Yemen using drones, which have frequently killed civilians and are deeply resented by Yemenis, even the many who abhor al-Qaeda.
A US military instructor was seriously wounded in yesterday's ambush, claimed by militant group Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law), which is affiliated to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).The AQAP also claimed responsibility for the military parade suicide attack, saying it was in response to the "crimes" of the security forces in Abyan.
"We will take revenge, God willing, and the flames of war will reach you everywhere," it said.
One investigator said preliminary findings suggested the suicide bomber was a rogue soldier who had somehow evaded security checks rather than a man in a disguise."The suicide bomber was dressed in a military uniform. He had a belt of explosives underneath," said a man who identified himself as Colonel Amin al-Alghabati, his hands and uniform flecked with blood.
The wounded were ferried to hospital in taxis."Most of the injuries are to the head, we have dozens paralysed. We expect the death toll to rise. Most of the injured here are boys in their teens. Sanaa's hospitals are overwhelmed," said doctor Mohsen al-Dhahari.
Reuters