Sanaa suicide bomber is terror convict

SANAA, Yemen, May 23 (UPI) -- Allegations arose Wednesday a convicted al-Qaida associate responsible for this week's suicide bombing in Sanaa infiltrated Yemen's Central Security Forces.

Yemen Today, a newspaper backed by deposed President Ali Abdullah Saleh, said Amin-Addin Ali al-Warafi, who was sentenced to five years in prison in 2007 for ties to al-Qaida, was behind Monday's deadly assault in Sanaa that left more than 400 casualties.

Yemen Today said despite his "past" Warafi infiltrated the Central Security Forces, "striking at the heart of the nation," hinting officials had a hand in the terror attack.

The online publication Nashwan News raised similar questions, calling on the government to investigate.

Mareb Press said 140 were killed and 300 wounded in Monday's bombing. Most of the casualties were soldiers in counterterrorism units headed by Gen. Yehia Mohammed Saleh, a nephew of the ousted president.

A dual suicide bomb attack targeting a busy junction in the capital was thwarted Tuesday evening, authorities said in a statement that urged citizens to pay extra attention to their surroundings.