Explosion hits gov't building in Yemen's Aden, 5 killed

A bomb explosion hit the headquarters of the local government in Yemen's southern port city of Aden on Thursday afternoon, killing at least five people and injuring 11 others, a security official told Xinhua.

"An impoverished explosive device (IED) exploded inside the local government compound in Aden's neighborhood of Mu'alla, killing five people and injuring 11 others at the scene, " the local security source said on condition of anonymity.

There were no officials or government workers inside the targeted building when the explosion occurred, according to the security source.

A top military official confirmed to Xinhua by phone saying that Aden's newly appointed governor Naif Bakry was not hurt.

Shiite Houthis took over Aden and several neighboring southern provinces late March. Since then, Aden has seen bloody confrontations, turning infrastructure and many neighborhoods in the city into rubbles.

Over four weeks ago, forces loyal to exiled Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, retook Aden, Lahj and Abyan provinces from Houthi control.

A Saudi-led Arab coalition has fought against the Shiite Houthi militia and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Aden since late March.

Hadi was ousted by the Shiite Houthi group who had controlled the capital Sanaa since September.

Hadi fled to Aden, which he declared as the temporary capital, in late February after weeks of house arrest, and has been taking refuge with his cabinet in the Saudi capital of Riyadh since March 26. Endit