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| Deadly attacks hit Yemen defence ministry in Sanaa | Deadly attacks hit Yemen defence ministry in Sanaa |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A series of attacks at Yemen's defence ministry have left at least 20 people dead and 37 injured, officials say. | A series of attacks at Yemen's defence ministry have left at least 20 people dead and 37 injured, officials say. |
| A suicide car bomb blew up at the gates of the complex in Sanaa's Bab al-Yaman district, at the entrance to the old city, and a gunbattle followed with suspected militants inside. | A suicide car bomb blew up at the gates of the complex in Sanaa's Bab al-Yaman district, at the entrance to the old city, and a gunbattle followed with suspected militants inside. |
| Officials said the situation was under control and most of the gunmen dead. | Officials said the situation was under control and most of the gunmen dead. |
| Yemeni security forces are fighting regional rebels and al-Qaeda, while combating lawlessness and army splits. | Yemeni security forces are fighting regional rebels and al-Qaeda, while combating lawlessness and army splits. |
| No group has said it carried out Thursday's attack. Correspondents say it bears the hallmarks of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). | |
| However, one government minister has blamed people linked to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. | |
| "The attack took place shortly after working hours started at the ministry when a suicide bomber drove a car into the gate," a ministry source said, quoted by Reuters. | "The attack took place shortly after working hours started at the ministry when a suicide bomber drove a car into the gate," a ministry source said, quoted by Reuters. |
| The blast was heard hundreds of metres away. | The blast was heard hundreds of metres away. |
| "The explosion was very violent, the whole place shook because of it and plumes of smoke rose from the building," an eyewitness told the agency. | "The explosion was very violent, the whole place shook because of it and plumes of smoke rose from the building," an eyewitness told the agency. |
| Continuous shooting | |
| Officials said a second car followed whose occupants opened fire at the complex, and a battle ensued involving gunmen in military uniforms. | Officials said a second car followed whose occupants opened fire at the complex, and a battle ensued involving gunmen in military uniforms. |
| The gunmen occupied a hospital at the complex, they added, but security forces later regained control of the building, which was badly damaged. | |
| They were said to be armed with assault rifles, hand grenades and rocket-propelled grenades. | |
| "Most" of the gunmen were killed, officials said, but it was not clear how many were involved. | "Most" of the gunmen were killed, officials said, but it was not clear how many were involved. |
| However, the BBC's Shaimaa Khalil in Sanaa says there was continuous shooting throughout the morning and some gunfire is continuing. | |
| She describes Bab al-Yaman as a busy, bustling area with many shops. | |
| The incident comes aid tight security in the last few weeks following a series of hit-and-run attacks on officials by militants on motorbikes, blamed on AQAP. | The incident comes aid tight security in the last few weeks following a series of hit-and-run attacks on officials by militants on motorbikes, blamed on AQAP. |
| There were a large number of checkpoints and armoured vehicles on the streets even before the attacks, our correspondent says. | |
| The country has been going through a painful transition since Mr Saleh was forced from office in 2011. |