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Blasts rock US embassy in Yemen | Blasts rock US embassy in Yemen |
(10 minutes later) | |
There have been two 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. |
A US spokesman said the embassy was hit by a car bomb and that there were an unconfirmed number of casualties. | |
Eyewitnesses say an exchange of gunfire between embassy guards and unidentified attackers followed the first blast. | |
A blazing vehicle is said to be visible in front of the embassy building, and hundreds of heavily-armed troops have 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). | 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. | According to eyewitnesses he spoke to, the gun battle lasted only a short time as security forces were quickly on the scene. |
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. | 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. |