国际英语新闻:Two powerful blasts rock Yemen's capital

SANAA, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Two powerful blasts rocked the Yemeni capital of Sanaa on Sunday night, police sources told Xinhua.

The first blast hit a residential area near the eastern gate of the headquarters of the Defense Ministry in Bab al-Yemen quarter in downtown Sanaa, while the other was seen near the house of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Haada street in southern the capital, one of the police officials told Xinhua.

He said there was no immediate information on casualties, and security and police forces were rushing to the scene.

Another security official told Xinhua that the second explosion, which occurred near Saleh's house, injured at least two people.

Local residents said gunfire was heard after the explosions and ambulances were running to different places in Sanaa.

In December 2013, a group of al-Qaida militants attacked the Yemeni Defense Ministry, killing 56 people, including several medical staff.

The Arab country where political upheaval in 2011 severely weakened the security has seen repeated attacks against the government institutions and assassinations.