Yemen foils two AQAP suicide attempts

By Fatik al-Rdoaini

SANA'A, May 21, 2012- Yemen's Interior Ministry said on Monday that security apparatus in Sana'a repulsed two suicide bombing attempts by al-Qaeda militants near al-Sabaan square .

Al-Gomhoriah newspaper reported that the attackers were intending to blow themselves up in a parade rehearsal for the celebration of Yemen's National Day on Tuesday, where tens of Yemeni soldiers were killed and wounded during an attack by a suicide bomber blew himself up early morning.

The ministry said that the two suicide bombers were wearing the uniform of the Security Central soldiers.

Meanwhile, sources said that the attacker who below himself up early morning had managed to target Yemen's Defense Minister who was there at the time of the explosion.

Yemen’s Defense Minister and Chief of Staff were present but not hurt in the blast.

Agence France-Presse quoted an al-Qaeda statement as taking responsibility for the attack in Hodeida, but the news agency also quoted a denial from the American Embassy in Sana as saying the reports of American advisers in Hodeida were untrue. “Reports of U.S. military trainers in Hodeida are false," an embassy e-mail was quoting as saying but it did not refer directly to Coast Guard personnel.

The embassy in Saana did not immediately respond to a telephone request for further comment.

The Al Qaeda statement was quoted as saying militants raked two cars carrying four American advisers “as they left their hotel on their way to work.”