Yemeni police arrest 25 in embassy bombing

SANAA, Yemen, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- At least 25 militants with suspected links to al-Qaida were arrested Thursday in the deadly attack on the U.S. Embassy in Yemen, diplomatic officials said.

A diplomatic source told CNN they were aware of reports indicating suspects were in custody, cautioning however that Yemeni security forces usually arrest "the usual suspects, and then nothing comes out of it" after such incidents.

Meanwhile, officials said the U.S. Embassy would resume normal operations Saturday.

Media reports said al-Qaida-affiliated Islamic Jihad in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack, CNN said. Sixteen people -- six Yemeni security officers, four civilians and six assailants -- died in Wednesday's assault on the compound that included two bomb-laden vehicles, rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons.

Yemeni officials say the deadly attack in Sanaa was retaliation by al-Qaida for the government's anti-terrorism efforts.

Foreign Minister Abou Bakr al-Qurbi said, "The attack on the U.S. Embassy was retaliation by al-Qaida for the measures taken by the government to fight the terrorists," The Washington Post said.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in Washington the attack had "all the hallmarks" of al-Qaida and that the Yemeni security forces' vigilance prevented a worse outcome.