Explosion shakes Sanaa

A violent explosion took place today at dawn the trade center in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, just a few hours after explosions which shook the southern parts of the country.

Eyewitnesses said that ambulances were seen in the streets following the explosion which took place at 2 a.m. today at dawn in the Yemeni capital resulted in killing nine persons and destroyed the largest trade center in Heddah (city center), where several headquarters of embassies and official buildings were situated.

AFP quoted the same sources as saying that the owner of the center, seven of his employees and one guard for a Yemeni diplomat were killed in the explosion which destroyed and burnt the city center, a one story building with an area of 400 square meters.

The sources added that gunshots were heard when the explosion took place.

Meanwhile, the BBC said that a booby-trapped car went off near the headquarters of the British embassy in Sanaa at 2 a. m today.

The British ambassador in Sanaa said in a statement to BBC radio that the explosion took place in the city center which is only 300 meters from the headquarters of the British embassy, but it did not harm any of the staff of the British embassy.

The ambassador denied that the British mission in Sanaa was the target of the explosion, as stated by one news agency. He added that he does not have information concerning the motives behind this explosion.

Meanwhile, Yemeni sources said the explosion is related to terrorist groups trying to pressure the government to retreat from its recent rulings to execute court judgments against them.

The source stated that would prevent the government from implementing the judgments issued by Yemeni judiciary.