Monday, March 5, 2012

Al-Qaida claims responsibility for bombing military plane in Yemen

SANAA, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The Yemen-based al-Qaida wing on Monday claimed responsibility for bombing a military cargo plane at an air force base near the Sanaa international air port one day ago, according to a statement obtained by Xinhua.

"Mujahedeen (holy warriors) blew up an explosive device inside an Antonov military cargo plane after the Mujahedeen succeeded in sneaking inside Al-Dailamy Air Force in the capital Sanaa," al- Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula said in the brief statement.
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A source in Sanaa's Daylami base reported that a military cargo plane exploded on Sunday afternoon. The explosion was heard within a wide range outside the base, sources have told Arabstoday.

The plane was a Russian-made Antonov model.

The source said the cause of the explosion is still unclear, especially as the plane was parked in a hangar for more than two weeks. Yemen's Republican Guard and Special Forces were controlling the air base for more than a month, led by former President Ali Abdullah Saleh's half-brother Major General Mohammed Saleh Al-Ahmar. Al-Ahmar himself has been accused of corruption by air force officials.

The activist "Free air officers" movement are holding a protest near the home of President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi Al-Ahmar was dismissed as commander and charged with being responsible for the explosion.  The statement said Hadi, Prime Minister Mohamed Basindwa and the military committee were responsible for security instability in Daylami base. The statement also mentioned that the Al-Ahmar was gathering groups from the Republican Guard and security forces along with thugs to face protests demanding his resignation.
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