Sanaa, Wednesday, September 17, 2008: The US embassy in the Yemeni capital Sanaa was hit by a car bombing and rocket fire on Wednesday sparking a series of explosions around the heavily fortified compound, said a witness.

The car was blown up in front of the entrance to the compound and gunmen in a second vehicle then opened fire on embassy security guards with rockets as well as small arms, the witness said.

The witness said there were casualties among the Yemeni police detachment posted outside the embassy but he could not specify their number or condition.