SANAA (Reuters) - A gunfight broke out between security guards and militants at the presidential palace in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Friday, witnesses said, and a security source reported several casualties on both sides.
Heavy gunfire was heard in the area surrounding the palace for up to an hour, and afterwards appeared to subside.
A security source told Reuters that a vehicle carrying a number of armed militants suspected to be linked to al Qaeda had attacked the main gate of the palace and gunfire was exchanged.
"There was a gunfight that lasted about 45 minutes and then a few of the militants managed to escape with their car," the source said, adding that there were a number of casualties on both sides, however no further details were immediately available.
The source said security forces in the area were looking for the militants in a nearby public garden.
An explosion was heard near a building used by the government's security service in another district of the city, residents told Reuters. There was no immediate word on the cause of the blast.
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