A POWERFUL SUICIDE bombing ripped through the Yemeni capital of Sanaa today, killing at least 47 people, including children.

Dozens more were wounded in the attack in Sanaa’s Al-Tahrir square, which targeted a gathering for supporters of Shiite insurgents who overran the capital last month.

The health ministry said that a further 75 people were wounded.

Blood-stained sandals at the scene of the bombing in Sanaa AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

A separate suicide car bombing killed 20 soldiers in southeastern Yemen.

Al-Qaeda is believed to have been behind the attack, AFP reported.

Yemen has been wracked by political turmoil and sporadic violence since the 2011 uprising that toppled Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Yemeni security officials collect debris at the site of the suicide bombing in Sanaa AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

The bombing in Sanaa came a day after Yemen’s new prime minister designate, named as part of a UN-brokered peace deal, refused the post amid fierce rebel opposition.

A Yemeni security official inspects the bombing site in Sanaa AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

The United States strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a “despicable attack against civilians”.

“The Yemeni people have lived with senseless violence for far too long and the recent increase in hostilities against innocent civilians only undermines the progress Yemen has made in achieving meaningful reform since 2011,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

Iran also expressed condolences over “this blind and inhuman act of terrorism”.

Additional reporting: AFP

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