SANAA, Yemen, May 26 (UPI) -- Yemeni opposition groups disputed a report by the country's Defense Ministry that said 28 people were killed in an arms depot blast in Sanaa early Thursday.
Opposition groups said the 28 died in government shelling of residential neighborhoods, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.
The report said several explosions were heard in the capital in the early morning hours.
Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, said three explosions occurred late Wednesday and quoted residents as saying two explosions occurred near President Ali Abdullah Saleh's old palace. A missile was fired over houses near opposition groups and army defectors near the Sanaa university.
The fighting has killed more than 70 people and injured dozens since Monday, the United Arab Emirates newspaper The National reported Thursday.
Sanaa airport was shut down Wednesday night due to the fierce fighting between Saleh loyalists and opposition groups, and flights were diverted to Aden, The National said. Fighting was also reported at University Square where protesters demanded Saleh resign.
Earlier a defiant Saleh, who has refused to step down, warned the country could erupt into civil war and threatened to "fight those who threaten the security and stability of the country," Albawaba.com quoted him as saying.
