An al-Qaeda suspect who was taken to hospital in Yemen after claiming to be ill seized a gun from one of his guards and shot him dead, then held two other guards hostage yesterday. 

The suspect, named Sharif Mobily – a German national of Somali origin – was eventually overpowered and taken to another hospital to be treated for injuries received during the fight. Reports: Reuters, DPA and NewsYemen.

Reuters also reports continuing clashes yesterday between security forces and separatist gunmen near the city of al-Dhali' (Dalea) in southern Yemen. Five people are said to have been wounded. 

In Abyan, a man blew himself up – apparently accidentally – while trying to attack the local headquarters of the ruling party, the General People's Congress. There were no other casualties and the blast caused only slight damage.

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 7 March 2010.