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Blasts rock US embassy in Yemen Blasts rock US embassy in Yemen
(20 minutes later)
There has been a series of explosions and heavy gunfire close to the US embassy in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. There have been two explosions and heavy gunfire close to the US embassy in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
Arab media reports say a suspected car bombing was followed by an exchange of gunfire between embassy guards and unidentified attackers. Two suspected car bombs detonated and there was an exchange of gunfire between embassy guards and unidentified attackers, according to eyewitnesses.
There are reports of a fire burning outside the embassy compound. There was no immediate word on casualties. Casualties are reported, but there has been no official comment by Yemeni or US officials.
Police are said to have cordoned off the area. There has been no official comment by Yemeni or US officials. Hundreds of heavily-armed troops have now been deployed around the US embassy compound.
A journalist for the Associated Press, who was at the scene, said the emergency services were at the scene and that hundreds of heavily-armed troops had been deployed around the compound. Yemeni journalist Akram al-Hindi, in Sanaa, told the BBC that the attack occurred at about 0830 local time (0530 GMT).
According to eyewitnesses he spoke to, the gun battle lasted only a short time as security forces were quickly on the scene.
He said there was a blazing vehicle visible in front of the embassy building.
The US ordered the evacuation of non-essential personnel from Yemen earlier this year after mortar bombs were fired towards the embassy. They missed but hit a nearby school.The US ordered the evacuation of non-essential personnel from Yemen earlier this year after mortar bombs were fired towards the embassy. They missed but hit a nearby school.
The government of Yemen, which backs America's "war on terror", has often blamed al-Qaeda for attacks on Western targets in the country.The government of Yemen, which backs America's "war on terror", has often blamed al-Qaeda for attacks on Western targets in the country.
US special forces have been helping the government fight the Islamist militants.US special forces have been helping the government fight the Islamist militants.
In October 2000, 17 US sailors were killed when suicide bombers blew themselves up on an inflatable raft next to the destroyer USS Cole in the southern Yemeni port of Aden.