Egypt condemned, on Wednesday, the explosion that targeted the Aden Airport in Yemen, moments after the landing of a plane carrying the newly formed cabinet, leaving scores dead and wounded.
Loud blasts and gunfire were heard at the airport shortly after the plane arrived from Riyadh, witnesses said. Two security sources gave the toll of casualties. At least 22 people were killed and dozens more wounded in the attack.
A local security source said three mortar shells had landed on the airport’s hall. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
The cabinet members including Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik, as well as Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Said al-Jaber, were transferred safely to the city’s presidential palace, Reuters quoted witnesses and Saudi media.
“We and the members of the government are in the temporary capital of Aden and everyone is fine,” Maeen tweeted from Maasheq palace, “The cowardly terrorist act that targeted Aden Airport is part of the war that is being waged against the Yemeni state and its great people.”
Jaber also tweeted: “Peace, security, and stability will prevail thanks to Yemenis’ strong will and their brave government.”
The newly formed cabinet gathered the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi with southern separatists, and intended to fulfil a Saudi aim of ending a feud among Riyadh’s allies.
Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, also condemned in the strongest terms the bombing that struck Aden Airport, shortly after the plane carrying members of the new Yemeni government landed in the country.
Aboul Gheit mourned the victims of the explosion, wishing safety for the wounded. He encouraged members of the new government and its president who undertake a courageous mission at an extremely difficult time to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.
In a statement, he described the bombing as a cowardly terrorist act aimed at sabotaging the political agreement recently reached under the auspices of Riyadh, according to which the new government was formed and the rift with the Transitional Political Council in the south was healed.
