Weapons factory explosion in Yemen kills scores

[News_Editor]

Weapons factory explosion in Yemen kills scores

2011-03-28 21:57:14 GMT+7 (ICT)

SANAA, YEMEN (BNO NEWS) --An explosion at a Yemeni weapons factory on Monday killed at least 40 and injured another 90 people in the southern region of the country, CNN reported Monday.

Medical and security officials told the media outlet that most of the victims were local residents looting ammunition after militants took over the factory in Yemen's Abyan Province on Sunday.

The origin of the explosion is still unclear as some local reports said youths rummaging the factory set off a series of explosions, while others said a lit cigarette triggered the blast.

Yemen has been facing months of protests and demonstrations, but President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has vowed to not step down, delivered a televised speech on Sunday to state his government stood strong. Following the speech, clashes between security forces and protesters worsened.

President Saleh, who has ruled the country for 32 years, has pledged not to seek his reelection in 2013 or hand over power to his son.

Last week, Saleh said the nation had been in a crisis for more than two years and blamed the unrest on a foreign agenda. He said some hostile media outlets exaggerated about the situation in Yemen and played a major role in influencing people and security officers to hurt Yemen's stability.

Furthermore, he fired his government and then designated it as caretaker until a new government is formed. Protesters' death toll has almost reached 100 since demonstrations began.

Yemeni protesters have been demanding the resignation of Saleh for the past two months. The demonstrations were initially inspired by the Tunisian revolt, but they gathered momentum with the success of Egypt's revolution.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-28