Armed militants fail to bomb gas pipeline in Yemen

Source: Reuters, 14/09/2010

ADEN, Yemen- Armed militants failed on Monday to bomb a key gas pipeline running through Yemen's southern province of Maarib to an export point in Shabwa, a security official said.

The militants threw hand grenades which fell metres away from the pipeline and pumping was not affected, said the official who refused to be identified.
It was not clear who was behind the attack.

Yemen, a small oil producer with output of around 300,000 barrels per day, has a $4.5 billion Total-led (TOTF.PA: Quote) liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant that started production in October, with a 322-km pipeline linking gas fields in Maarib to the coast.

Yemen, next door to top oil exporter Saudi Arabia, jumped to the forefront of Western security concerns after the Yemen-based regional arm of al Qaeda claimed responsibility for a botched bombing of a U.S.-bound plane on Dec. 25.

In August, al Qaeda's Yemen-based arm said it was behind two attacks that killed at least 11 soldiers in the oil province of Shabwa in July, and threatened more strikes on government targets. [ID:nLDE67608M] (Reporting by Mohammed Mukhashaff in Aden; writing by Tamara Walid in Dubai)