Yemeni Defense Minister survives attack

Yemeni Defense Minister Mohammad Nasser Ali has escaped an attack on his convoy in the southern city of Aden.

Officials said a car laden with explosives detonated near his convoy, injuring seven soldiers who had been traveling in the convoy's lead car.

Reuters said Ali had been inside in the second car, and that the blast had been triggered by remote control.

The BBC cited other reports that grenades were also thrown during the attack.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility.

Yemen has seen an escalation in violence, as forces both in favor of, and in opposition to, President Ali Abdullah Saleh do battle in the capital, Sanaa.

(Read more on GlobalPost: Yemenis blame US and Saudi for Saleh’s return)

Meanwhile in the country's south, government forces have been fighting militants linked to al-Qaeda, who have taken advantage of Yemen's political instability.

Saleh made a surprise return to Yemen on Friday, after spending three months in Saudi Arabia recovering from a bomb attack on his presidential palace in June.