Bomber targets British envoy

A suspected Al Qaeda suicide bomber targeted a convoy of the British ambassador to Yemen yesterday, killing himself and injuring three others, but the envoy was unharmed, Yemeni and British officials said.

The hit "bore the hallmarks of Al Qaeda", Yemen's interior ministry said, a reminder that despite recent efforts by the impoverished country to crack down on the global militant group, its members were still able to carry out such violent attacks.

Ambassador Tim Torlot was on his way to the embassy when the blast occurred, the ministry said. Two of the wounded were security officials escorting the ambassador's motorcade, while the third was a bystander. Britain's Foreign Office confirmed that a small explosion took place beside the ambassador's car. He was unhurt and no other embassy staff were injured, it said.