2012-05-22 13:40:41 Al Qaeda- Yemen Suicide Bombing 'Revenge'
Transcript by Newsy: http://www.youtube.com/user/NewsyWorld?feature=guide
(Image source: Al Jazeera)
BY CARISSA LOETHEN
At least 90 are dead and more than 200 wounded after a suicide bomber blew himself up during a military parade rehearsal in Yemen's capital. A police officer recounts the siege to the Washington Post.
"It all happened so quickly. ...we heard the explosion and saw the soldiers flying in the air. We were told the assailant was a soldier wearing an explosive belt."
Fox News reports al-Qaeda is claiming credit for the attack.
"Today the Al-Qaeda branch in Yemen released a statement calling the bombing payback for a U.S war on the terror group."
Unpopular former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh stepped down in the wake of the Arab Spring — and the BBC's Frank Gardner suggests the attack may have been a direct message to his successor.
"This will be a message from the militants to him. You know, we can get you any time. And already in the last few days Al-Qaeda's replacement for Osama Bin Laden has said we consider him to be just as bad."
The Christian Science Monitor explains this all comes just one day after American contractors were attacked in Southern Yemen. al-Qaeda has also claimed responsibility for that attack.
"The trainers were reportedly driving back to their hotel when a car pulled up alongside them and opened fire with an automatic weapon, injuring one American..."
ABC says despite the deadly attack Monday...
... the Yemeni army and the U.S. will continue its fight against Al-Qaeda. It's not even close to being defeated here yet."
During President Obama's live news conference Monday, a reporter asked Obama what the U.S. is going to do to slow the process of anarchy in Yemen.
"...We're going to continue to work with the Yemeni government to try to identify aqap leadership and operations and try to thwart them..."
It remains unclear if the planned parade will go as planned Tuesday. Yemeni officials say it is a significant event, celebrating the unity between North and South Yemen.