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Yemen denies blast near US embassy

Arab World Materials 29 October 2013 12:37 (UTC +04:00)
The Yemeni government on Tuesday denied that a blast took place near the US embassy in Sana'a, saying it was fireworks
Yemen denies blast near US embassy

The Yemeni government on Tuesday denied that a blast took place near the US embassy in Sana'a, saying it was fireworks, dpa reported.

The explosion heard Monday evening was fireworks set off during a wedding procession, an Interior Ministry source told the state-run SABA news agency.

The independent Yemen Post quoted witnesses as saying the explosion took place 2 to 3 kilometers from the US embassy. The report said government forces set up checkpoints at roads leading to the embassy and blocked roads up to 4 kilometres from the embassy.

In August, the United States and European countries closed their embassies in Yemen and other Arab countries for about two weeks after the US said it had intercepted messages from senior al-Qaeda leaders in which plans to attack an embassy were discussed.

Yemen is a stronghold of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and US drone strikes aimed at Islamist militants in Yemen have increased in recent month.

Al-Qaeda's Yemen branch has repeatedly called for attacks on US diplomats and embassies.

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