Gunmen kill security officer, wound others in southern Yemen

Gunmen kill security officer, wound others in southern Yemen

2012-01-12 23:17:48 GMT+7 (ICT)

SANA'A (BNO NEWS) -- Unidentified gunmen killed a Yemeni political security officer on Wednesday and injured seven others in an attack against a government vehicle in the southern port city of Aden, officials said on Thursday.

The attack happened as the intelligence officers were heading to work in Yemen's business capital. Eyewitnesses told CNN that heavy artillery was used in the attack.

"We believe that at least four militants were involved in the attack," a senior security official told CNN on the condition of anonymity. "The government will not give additional details before the investigation is complete."

The official said that a dozen such attacks have taken place in Aden over the last six months. "At least 34 have been killed or injured since last September," he added.

Security officials have blamed al-Qaeda for the attacks, but political experts believe that members of the old regime are to blame. "The government has been practicing a dangerous tactic by weakening the political security because its loyalty is not to the ruling family," Abdul Salam Mohammed, Chairman of Abaad Strategic Center, told CNN. "These attacks were expected and many others will follow."

Government troops have been battling militants since early 2011 after massive protests calling for greater democracy and freedoms erupted across the country. A national unity government, led by Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi, was sworn in last month in an effort to restore peace and democracy, but violence has continued.

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