Seven killed in north Yemen in mine blast

By Fatik al-Rodaini

SANA'A, March 22, 2012-  At least 7 people were reportedly killed and 15 others wounded on Thursday in a landmine explosion in Al-Haza, a district of Yemen’s northern province of Hajah.

The explosion occurred when a local resident who had fled the area following the unrest returned to his residence. Many locals had to run because of the ongoing bloody conflict opposing al-Houthis, a Shia rebel group and the Salafis, Sunni fundamentalists.

Sources reported that many of the victims lost their limbs to the blast, while others managed to escape with minor injuries.

Residents accused al-Houthi rebels to have planting explosive devices near their homes as to hold back their enemies, with blatant disregard to local residents’ well fare.

For months, the Shia insurgents targeted local villages for they believe they had sided with their enemies, firing rockets and launching raids on farms despite the presence of women and children. Despite numerous calls for help to the government, Sana’a has yet to act on behalf of its citizens and bring them some sort of support and protection.

Many similar accidents left several people dead and injured including children and women since the war ended early this year in the province.

In Huta, the regional capital of the southern province of Lahj, soldiers opened fire early morning yesterday on a car which failed to stop at a checkpoint, killing a child and wounding his mother, security officials reported.

Following the incident, alleged al-Qaeda militants killed a Yemeni soldier and injured 2 others during an attack on a military checkpoint in the southern province of Lahj.