Yemen: 20 Dead Following Militant Suicide Attack

A brazen attack on the Yemeni Ministry of Defence in the capital Sana'a has left at least 20 people dead, say security officials.

A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into the building which made way for gunmen in another car to storm the premises and occupy part of the complex, before it was retaken by security forces.

Unconfirmed reports suggested the gunmen took advantage of construction work that was taking place to carry out the attack.

"At least 20 people have been killed in the attack," the defence ministry said in a brief statement.

"A car bomb driven by a suicide bomber forced its way into the western entrance of the ministry complex which was followed by another car whose occupants opened fire," it said.

Gunfire could still be heard on the streets after the attack

Columns of smoke could be seen billowing across the ministry complex as gunfire was heard.

"I heard a series of explosions, and then an exchange of fire," a wounded soldier told local journalists. State television has broadcast appeals for blood donations at hospitals treating the wounded.

Attacks in the capital and in the country's south have been blamed by the US on Islamist militants as Yemen prepares for presidential elections in February.

The country has been going through a difficult political transition since veteran president Ali Abdullah Salah was ousted in 2012 after a year of protests against his 33-year rule.

Militants in the country have launched repeated attacks on security forces despite suffering setbacks in a major army offensive last year and repeated US drone strikes which have targeted their commanders.

There has also been on-off fighting in the far north between Shiite rebels and hardline Sunnis.

Yemeni authorities recently imposed a temporary ban on motorbikes in the capital to prevent hit-and-run shootings that have killed dozens of officials.

Two gunmen on a bike last week killed a Belarussian defence contractor and wounded another as they left a Sanaa hotel.

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