Blasts Heard From Military Depot In Yemen Capital

Loud explosions which appeared to come from a weapons storage depot at a military compound echoed across the Yemeni capital.

Loud explosions which appeared to come from a weapons storage depot at a military compound echoed across the Yemeni capital on Thursday, residents said.

"The explosions can be heard across the city," a resident said. The nature of the blasts was not clear and it was not immediately known whether anyone was hurt.

Fire trucks and police cars rushed to the area. Hundreds of people watched from rooftops as smoke billowed from the depot.

Earlier this week, officials took reporters to the depot to display bombs, artillery, anti-aircraft guns, and other weaponry bought or seized from ordinary civilians as part of a crackdown in the Arab country where arms are openly carried.

Yemen's cabinet launched a campaign last month to shut down shops selling weapons without a license.

It said that millions of dollars would be spent buying up weapons from heavily-armed tribesmen, in a country where tribes remain strong and resist government control.