At least 76 civilians were killed in the explosion of a munitions factory in the province of Abyan, south of Yemen, who had been assaulted by members of Al Qaeda, officials said the local administration. "Between 75 and 80 people died in explosion "in the province of Abyan, said a local official, Nasser al Mansari, stating that" 55 bodies were identified.
" According to the official health sector in Abyan, Jedra Al Saidi, a woman succumbed to his injuries in hospital in Aden, bringing to at least 76 the number killed in the explosion. Mansari, general secretary of the Municipal Council of the town of Khanfar, which is administratively attached to the factory, adding that it was not possible to identify the other bodies, charred or leaving only bones.
Most of the victims, including twenty women and some children, were quickly buried according to Muslim tradition, he added. Al Saidi said that 54 wounded were admitted to hospital in Jaar, a town 10 km from the scene, and another 30 at a hospital in Aden, the main southern city. Confirmed that "55 bodies could be identified." The previous balance of victims was at least 70, said Said Salem Mohsen, a member of the Council of the town in the province Khanfar Banyan.
A spokesman in the province of Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the explosion, saying the Islamist network had attracted civilians to a "death trap." The spokesman, quoted by the internet portal of the Yemeni Defense Ministry announced an investigation but said the blast was caused by gunpowder stored in the factory.
"There was a series of explosions and a fire destroyed the factory," he said. The victims are civilians who entered the factory to try to recover weapons and ammunition a day after an operation command of Al Qaeda elements, who attacked the military unit production and took away boxes of ammunition.
The command, consisting of about thirty people hooded boxes of ammunition shipped aboard four trucks before leaving the site. The munitions factory called "October 7" is located near Jaar, a stronghold of Al Qaeda, whose elements are the army clashed for control of this city. The plant, inherited from the Soviet era as the former Republic of South Yemen was an ally of Moscow, produced bullets for Kalashnikov assault rifles, based weapon of armed forces and the rebels and very common among the civilian population.
On Sunday, the command of Al Qaeda neutralized the guards and civilians on Monday took the lack of supervision to enter the factory. The situation in the province of Abyan illustrates the lack of control exercised by the central government of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in important regions.
Al Qaeda operates openly in this vast semi-desert province and the Confederate movement, fighting for autonomy is also very active. On Sunday, after heavy fighting against the army, elements of Al Qaeda took control of the town of Jaar, located 10 kilometers from the stricken plant. In the province of Marib, east of Sanaa, six Yemeni soldiers were killed in an attack attributed to Al Qaeda, military and tribal sources said.
President Saleh implicitly acknowledged to leaders of his party, General People's Congress (GPC), which controlled the entire country. He also mentioned the gas and fuel shortages in the capital, saying it had blocked roads by opponents and rebels. After two months of unrest, Saleh, a U.S.
ally, struggles to stay in power, it occupied 32 years ago. 
" According to the official health sector in Abyan, Jedra Al Saidi, a woman succumbed to his injuries in hospital in Aden, bringing to at least 76 the number killed in the explosion. Mansari, general secretary of the Municipal Council of the town of Khanfar, which is administratively attached to the factory, adding that it was not possible to identify the other bodies, charred or leaving only bones.
Most of the victims, including twenty women and some children, were quickly buried according to Muslim tradition, he added. Al Saidi said that 54 wounded were admitted to hospital in Jaar, a town 10 km from the scene, and another 30 at a hospital in Aden, the main southern city. Confirmed that "55 bodies could be identified." The previous balance of victims was at least 70, said Said Salem Mohsen, a member of the Council of the town in the province Khanfar Banyan.
A spokesman in the province of Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the explosion, saying the Islamist network had attracted civilians to a "death trap." The spokesman, quoted by the internet portal of the Yemeni Defense Ministry announced an investigation but said the blast was caused by gunpowder stored in the factory.
"There was a series of explosions and a fire destroyed the factory," he said. The victims are civilians who entered the factory to try to recover weapons and ammunition a day after an operation command of Al Qaeda elements, who attacked the military unit production and took away boxes of ammunition.
The command, consisting of about thirty people hooded boxes of ammunition shipped aboard four trucks before leaving the site. The munitions factory called "October 7" is located near Jaar, a stronghold of Al Qaeda, whose elements are the army clashed for control of this city. The plant, inherited from the Soviet era as the former Republic of South Yemen was an ally of Moscow, produced bullets for Kalashnikov assault rifles, based weapon of armed forces and the rebels and very common among the civilian population.
On Sunday, the command of Al Qaeda neutralized the guards and civilians on Monday took the lack of supervision to enter the factory. The situation in the province of Abyan illustrates the lack of control exercised by the central government of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in important regions.
Al Qaeda operates openly in this vast semi-desert province and the Confederate movement, fighting for autonomy is also very active. On Sunday, after heavy fighting against the army, elements of Al Qaeda took control of the town of Jaar, located 10 kilometers from the stricken plant. In the province of Marib, east of Sanaa, six Yemeni soldiers were killed in an attack attributed to Al Qaeda, military and tribal sources said.
President Saleh implicitly acknowledged to leaders of his party, General People's Congress (GPC), which controlled the entire country. He also mentioned the gas and fuel shortages in the capital, saying it had blocked roads by opponents and rebels. After two months of unrest, Saleh, a U.S.
ally, struggles to stay in power, it occupied 32 years ago.
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