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Emergency declared in Yemen amid mounting protests

70 killed in ammunition factory blast in southern Yemen

DUBAI: A massive blast ripped apart an ammunition factory in southern Yemen, killing 70 people and wounding more than 100 in fresh violence in the strife-torn key Arab state, where crucial transition of power talks have been stalled.

The explosion came a day after the factory was overrun by al-Qaida militants.

"The explosion shook the town of Jaar and could be heard up to 15 kms away," the official, Mohsin Salem, said.

Other security officials said the heavily-armed militants numbering more than 30 raided the plant, which makes ammunition for Kalashnikov rifles. They said the al-Qaida men later stormed and captured Jaar town itself.

With President Ali Abdullah Saleh's government weakened by a student uprising and a military revolt, a large swaths of Yemen have been taken over by Zaidi Shias in the North and al-Qaida-led separatist movement in the south.


Renewed violence hit the country as talks on transition of power between Saleh and his former top estranged General Mohsin Ali broke down.



*Saleh had suddenly become very collegial and even had readied himself for timely transfer of power. However, for no valid reasons, he changed his decision the very next day!

Now, in spite of all the violence and his weakened position, he is back to his old rhetoric that he will not step down until the election next year. His decision to step down must have been a little too haste, and he seems to have consulted with the US before deciding to stay rigid in his position. It will not be too surprising to see some more US drones/fighter jets flying over Yemen in favor of Saleh.
 

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