Yemen: Suicide bomber hits rebel rally in capital

A suicide bomber struck at the center of the Yemeni capital of Sanaa on Thursday, setting off his explosives at a gathering of supporters of the rebel Shiite Houthis who recently overran the city, security officials said. The massive blast reverberated through the heart of Sanna but the number of casualties was not immediately known. A television channel that supports the rebels, al-Maseera, said that at least 32 people died in the explosion but the report could not be immediately confirmed. The pan-Arab Arabiyah satellite channel broadcast footage from the immediate aftermath, showing several lifeless bodies lying on the street and large pools of blood on a sidewalk. Yemeni officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Security officials said that the explosion was the work of a suicide bomber, but provided no further details. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to media. The attack, however, bore all the hallmarks of al-Qaida, whose Yemeni branch is considered by Washington to be the world's most dangerous offshoot of the terror network. It has also staged large-scale attacks and bombings in the past, according to AP