Car bomb goes off at Yemen security chief's home, 8 killed

Sana'a: A booby-trapped car struck the home of the security chief of Yemen's southern port city of Aden on Sunday, killing about eight people, a police official told Xinhua.

"A four-wheel-drive vehicle loaded with explosives struck the main gate of the residential building of Aden's security chief, Brigadier Shalal Ali Shayea, leaving eight people dead -- mostly bodyguards," a local police official said on condition of anonymity.

Witnesses said that "a huge blast was heard near the house of Aden's security chief in Aden's neighbourhood of Tawahi and followed by exchange of heavy gunfire."

A spokesman for Aden's local government said that "for the second time, Brigadier General Shalal Shayea survived a terrorist car bombing unharmed, but some soldiers were killed and others injured at the scene."

Initial information indicate that eight soldiers were killed in the attack, including the suicide bomber who slammed his explosives-laden car into the building. An unspecified number of civilians, who were present in the area, were wounded in the explosion.

The port city of Aden, Yemen's temporary capital, has been witnessing a state of chaos and lawlessness during the past months resulted in the assassination of Aden's governor, several security officers and judges.