Yemen's government has blamed al-Qa'ida for a
suicide bombing that has claimed at least 45 lives in the southern province of
Abyan. Dozens more people were injured in the attack on a funeral in the city of
Jaar.
It is thought that the bomber detonated an explosive belt
during the service held by a tribal militia that supported the army during
recent fighting.
In a statemtn, local governor Jamal al-Aqal
said that an investigation had been opened into the "criminal and
cowardly" attack on the service. According to an unnamed witness:
"Bodies were flying in all directions because the explosion was so
powerful."
Earlier this year, Yemen's army carried out a major offensive
against Islamist militants in Abyan, taking control of the region in June with
the help of civilian militias comprised of local tribesmen.
The latest attack, however, has raised fears that Ansar
al-Sharia remains active in the area. Groups belonging to the al-Qa'ida have
taken advantage of the security vacuum in the country, which began during a year
of protests against the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Upon taking power the new President Abdrabuh Mansur
Hadi pledged his forces would crush the militants, but it seems the
fight is ongoing.
The US has used its drones in the region to support the
military campaign. According to Yemeni officials, just days ago, five alleged
al-Qa'ida militants were killed in a suspected US drone strike. The drone
reportedly targeted their vehicle in Hadramawt.
For more news and expert analysis about Yemen, please see Yemen Focus.
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