Ammunition Store Blast Kills 28 in Sanaa

An ammunition store belonging to the powerful al-Ahmar tribe blew up in the Yemeni capital Sanaa killing 28 people, the defense ministry's 26sep.net news website said on Thursday.

"Twenty-eight people were killed in an explosion at an ammunition store belonging to Hamid al-Ahmar" in Sanaa, 26sep.net said in a text message.

The store is in a building located near a military post where troops led by dissident General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar are stationed, said the ministry.

But a military official from General Ahmar's troops denied this, saying "there is no ammunition store in the area."

Agence France Presse could not independently verify the reports.

Deadly clashes have been raging since Monday between security forces and fighters loyal to Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar who rallied, along with the general, to the opposition seeking to oust veteran President Ali Abdullah Saleh.