DHAKA: At least 20 people were killed and dozens wounded on Thursday in a bomb attack and gun battles at Yemen’s defence ministry compound in Sanaa.

A military source told media, reports The Jerusalem Post.

Those killed include a number of militants who stormed the compound after a bomb went off, the source said.

Earlier, the BBC reported smoke was seen rising from the complex in Bab al-Yaman district, at the entrance to the old city.

Witnesses heard gunshots as an ambulance rushed to the scene. The cause of the blast is not yet clear.

Yemeni security forces are fighting regional rebels and al-Qaeda militants, while struggling to control lawlessness and divisions within the army.

BDST: 1604 HRS, DEC 05, 2013