Yemen: A suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden car on Thursday at Yemen's Defense Ministry, killing 15 soldiers and wounding at least 40 in an attack underlining the persistent threat to the stability and security of the impoverished Arab nation, military and hospital officials said.
Officials said as many as 12 gunmen also were killed in a firefight between troops and a carload of attackers who arrived minutes after the early morning blast, apparently in a bid to take over the complex in downtown Sanaa, Yemen's capital.
They said the gunmen were armed with assault rifles, hand grenades and rocket-propelled grenades.
They wore Yemeni army uniforms, the officials said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida, whose chapter in Yemen is considered among the world's most active.
The Defense Ministry issued a brief statement confirming Thursday's attack.
It said “most” of the gunmen had been killed, but did not say how many there were or give any other details.
