Suicide blast kills Yemen army chief

The army chief leading the fight against al-Qa'ida militants in southern Yemen has been killed by a suicide bomber, security officials said today.

Major General Salem Ali al-Quton was on his way to work this morning when the attack happened.

The bomber threw himself at the general's SUV in the southern port city of Aden.

Four members of the general's security detail and a passer-by were seriously injured. The general's vehicle was in a three-car convoy.

Maj Gen Al-Quton was appointed commander of the army in the south in April.

The military there scored a series of battlefield victories last week against al-Qa'ida, driving militants out of the cities of Zinjibar and Jaar in Abyan province.

AP