Sana’a, March 28: The death toll of an explosion in the ammunitions factory near the south Yemeni town of Jaar has climbed to at least 70 people, an official says.
The incident that wounded many others happened on Monday one day after militants seized the ammunitions factory and looted its equipment.
Witnesses said that a person lit a cigarette inside the plant, triggering the huge blast.
Local residents were inside the factory to collect what was left behind after the militant attack.
This is while the Middle Eastern state has been the scene of anti-government demonstrations, seeking an end to Ali Abdullah Saleh’s three-decade presidency.
The protests escalated on Sunday after Saleh made a controversial televised speech, saying his government is firm despite the rallies.
Nearly 100 protesters have been killed and many others have been injured in the government crackdown since protests against Saleh started in mid-February.
The protests prompted a string of army commanders, including Major General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, diplomats and tribal leaders to abandon Saleh and join the opposition severely weakening his position.
—Agencies