Yemen’s defence minister escaped unscathed today after a suicide attacker driving an explosives-laden car blew himself up next to his convoy, security officials and witnesses said.

AT least 230 Yemeni soldiers were killed in fighting with militants linked to al-Qaida that led to the lifting of the siege of a brigade imposed three months ago, the defence ministry said yesterday.

Three senior army commanders defected to anti-government ranks in Yemen today and ordered their tanks on to the capital's streets in a show of force.