Boy kills five in Yemen suicide bomb attack

Sana'a: At least five people were killed in a suicide bombing near a government complex in the volatile city of Sa'ada in the north of Yemen, local sources said on Saturday.

A 14-year old boy, believed to be a supporter of Al Houthi rebels, detonated an anti-personnel mine between the Sa'ada governor's office and the post office, killing himself and four others, as well as injuring three people, local sources said.

"Guards at the post office were suspicious of the boy and stopped him from entering the post office, where many teachers were collecting their monthly salaries," the sources said.

The boy went to the back of the building, and we heard the explosion, the sources said. The bomber and two people died on the spot. Five teachers were injured. Two of them died later in hospital, the sources added.

No immediate comment from the Government was available, despite repeated calls to concerned bodies in Sa'ada and Sana'a.

The suicide bombing came one day after the field commander of the armed rebellion, Abdul Malek Al Houthi, threatened to expand its armed revolt and attack the capital, Sana'a, with rockets.

"The real war has not begun yet," Al Houthi said in an interview with the Lebanese Al Akhbar newspaper on Friday. He denied getting support from Iran.

Sources in Sa'ada said the bombing came after about 80 rebels were killed and hundreds injured and arrested over the last two days in the fiercest battles since fighting erupted between rebels and government soldiers in May. Many soldiers were killed and others injured in these battles.

Government troops have taken control of many areas in Haidan, one of the main Al Houthi strongholds. Rebels have besieged government troops led by Commander Abdul Aziz Al Shahri there since the beginning of the war. Supply and equipment had to be air-lifted in.

Government troops led by Commander Mohammad Ali Al Jaifi have in recent days made a new push to take full control of Haidan, security sources told Gulf News.