28 die in Yemen weapons depot blast
May 26th, 2011 - 7:52 pm ICT by IANSSana’a, May 26 (IANS) Twenty-eight rebel tribesmen were killed in a blast at a weapons depot during overnight clashes with the security forces in the Yemeni capital, Xinhua reported.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh has ordered the arrest of the dissident tribal leader Sadiq al-Ahmar over the gun battle.
The defence ministry said Thursday that 28 tribesmen guarding an arms storage that belonged to al-Ahmar and his brothers, were killed in a blast at the facility.
The ministry said the “arms storage contained a large quantity of small and heavy weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, missiles and shells, which were used in attacking residents and occupying government buildings”.
It said the government forces destroyed the opposition satellite TV station Suhail in Hassaba district in downtown Sana’a, where non-stop clashes continued Thursday. An opposition member told Xinhua that at least 79 of al-Ahmar’s fighters were killed during the overnight clashes.
The ministry said Thursday that President Saleh has ordered the arrest of Sadiq al-Ahmar, who is the chieftain of the powerful tribal coalition Hashed.
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