Yemen: At least 70 killed in the explosion of a munitions factory in Yemen

By CG, 28th Mar 2011 | Follow this author | RSS Feed | Short URL http://nut.bz/151qj31i/
Posted in Wikinut>News>World

More than 70 people died Monday in an explosion at a munitions factory in southern Yemen, in the province of Abyan.

Killed whild Breaking in to Factory

Medical sources even speak of 110 dead.

The victims were civilians who tried to steal weapons, following an operation carried out against the Islamist plant.

Sunday, a squad of thirty men wearing balaclavas broke into the factory specializing in the production of cartridges for Kalashnikov assault rifles, and took away some thirty cases of ammunition, without ever being disturbed.

According to AFP, the group allegedly linked to Al Qaeda.

Civilians took advantage of the absence of security guards, neutralized Sunday by the Islamists to infiltrate the group.

The causes of the explosion remains unknown. According to residents, several explosions were heard and could be heard up to 15 miles away.

The plant is located about ten kilometers from Jaar, a city that has also been taken by members of Al Qaeda on Sunday after heavy fighting with the Yemeni army.

Like other Arab countries, Yemen saw significant popular uprisings in recent weeks. Protesters demanding the ouster of President Ali Abdallah Saleh, in power for 33 years.

The situation in the province of Abyan illustrates the lack of control exercised by the central government of President Saleh in large parts of the country. Al-Qaeda operates openly in this vast province semi-desert and the southern separatist movement is very active.