Militants attack Yemeni soldiers
September 20, 2013At least 30 people were killed on Friday when two car bombs exploded at a military camp in al-Nashama in Yemen's southern Shabwah Province.
In a separate attack at least 10 were killed when gunmen opened fire on a military headquarters in the nearby town of Maifaa.
News agency Reuters reported that local officials suspect that members of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) were behind the attacks, although no group has yet claimed responsibility.
Yemeni authorities accuse AQAP of carrying out near-daily attacks on police and army targets in the south and east of the country, where the group is known to be active. The group took advantage of political chaos during an uprising in 2011 that saw the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh to strengthen its hold in the south of the country.
AQAP, seen by western countries as one of the most dangerous branches of al Qaeda, has also attempted to carry out a number of bombings on international airlines.
ccp/dr (AFP, AP, Reuters)