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Yemen 'foils oil plant attacks' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Four suicide attackers have been killed in Yemen attempting to blow up oil installations with bomb-laden cars, Yemen's interior ministry says. | |
One security guard was also killed in the early-morning attacks on the Safer refinery in Marib and the al-Dhabba terminal in Hadramout. | |
Two cars were used in both attacks which were foiled by security forces. | Two cars were used in both attacks which were foiled by security forces. |
There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The attacks come ahead of presidential and local elections. | There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The attacks come ahead of presidential and local elections. |
Yemen, the ancestral homeland of Osama Bin Laden, has seen attacks in the past claimed by Islamists and has gained a reputation as a haven for militants. | Yemen, the ancestral homeland of Osama Bin Laden, has seen attacks in the past claimed by Islamists and has gained a reputation as a haven for militants. |
Since the 11 September terror attacks on America, the authorities have cracked down on suspected al-Qaeda members, and the US has supplied equipment and training for its security forces. | Since the 11 September terror attacks on America, the authorities have cracked down on suspected al-Qaeda members, and the US has supplied equipment and training for its security forces. |
'In uniform' | |
A security source quoted by AFP news agency said that both of Friday's attacks came at about 0530 local time (0230 GMT). | |
"The two attempts... were foiled by the forces in charge of security at oil installations and the Yemeni army," the source said. | "The two attempts... were foiled by the forces in charge of security at oil installations and the Yemeni army," the source said. |
The attackers were dressed in uniforms similar to those worn by staff at the facilities, security officials were quoted as saying by The Associated Press. | |
They apparently timed their attacks to coincide with shift changes, the officials said. | |
Oil is the chief export of Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world. | Oil is the chief export of Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world. |