CAIRO — The official Yemeni news agency reported on Friday that four suicide
bombers sought to attack crude oil and natural gas facilities in the
country.
The Saba news agency said Yemeni security forces shot and blew up
four booby-trapped cars before they could penetrate the facilities.
Yemen holds a presidential election on Sept. 20, Middle East Newsline reported. Earlier this month, Al
Qaida's No. 2 Ayman Zawahiri condemned U.S. allies in the Arab world and
called for strikes against energy facilities in the region.
The Yemeni Interior Ministry identified two facilities — an oil
refinery in the northeast province of Maareb and an oil storage facility at
Duba port in Haramut. The two attacks took place within 35 minutes of each
other. The ministry said it was seeking to identify the attackers and
determine their sponsors.
Saba said a suicide bomber was driving each of the vehicles. The agency
said all four attackers as well as a security guard were killed. None of the
facilities was damaged, Saba said.
Security sources said the bombers were believed to have been sent by Al
Qaida. They said the bombers were dressed in the uniforms of refinery
workers.
