[04/July/2009]

SANA'A, July 04 (Saba) – Days after an oil pipeline was blown up in the southern Shabwa province, police in the Khawlan district east of Yemen's capital have foiled an attempted attack on an oil pipeline in the area.

Two suspects, whose names were not disclosed, were said to have dug under the pipeline, stretching at the Habab valley, with the intention to plant a bomb and detonate it at the pipeline, police said.

The names of the two suspects have been circulated at all police departments in the country.

They are now blacklisted, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry said, adding the two must be held at any time and any place.

The attempted attack prompted the ministry to urge tight security at all land and air exits in the district to prevent the two from leaving state. 

Unknown people blew up an oil pipeline in Yemen's southern Shabwa province, causing a major leak
of crude oil.

The attack occurred on Thursday morning at the al-Sieq area, one kilometer east of the Azzan district.

The perpetrators dug under the pipeline, put a bomb and then detonated it from a distance.

The explosion has damaged 160 meters of the pipeline, police director in the area said.

We were called and informed of the bombing, he said, adding that
teams have arrived at the explosion site to probe.

The police director has accused fans of the Southern Anti-Government Movement of the attack, saying that they earlier promised subversive acts when the July 7th anniversary falls.

Late last year, a pipeline was bombed in the district and the perpetrators are still at large.

FR
Saba