Blast at ammunitions factory kills at least 40

An explosion at an ammunitions factory near the south Yemeni town of Jaar has killed at least 40 people including children. The blast comes a day after Al-Qaeda suspects looted the plant. The cause of the blast is not yet known. 

A security official said the explosion came as dozens of residents were inside the factory searching for ammunition following a raid by some 30 armed and hooded gunmen on Sunday.

The gunmen looted the building and made off in four vehicles with cases of weapons.

The incident comes as a security official claimed that suspected Al-Qaeda militants had seized control of Jaar, a town in the restive southern province of Abyan.