Al Qaida blamed for embassy blast in Yemen.

SUSPECTED Al Qaida terrorists tried to smash in to the heavily-guarded US Embassy in Yemen yesterday with a massive car bomb that killed 10 local guards.

Six attackers were also killed in a gun battle that followed the blast.

Yemen is the ancestral homeland of al Qaida's leader Osama bin Laden and a stronghold for the terrorist group.

The compound has been targeted four times in recent years by bombings, mortars and shootings.

An embassy spokesman said no Americans were hurt. He said the assault, which was beaten off, bears "all the hallmarks of an al Qaida attack."

A US official earlier said the bombings were carefully orchestrated, with sniper fire and some attackers apparently dressed as soldiers. The White House called the attack a reminder of the danger from "violent extremists both at home and abroad." The official said as many as five explosions struck the embassy, and Yemeni forces who first responded were ambushed by snipers.

The official said one locally employed embassy security guard was killed in the attack, as well as four Yemeni troops guarding the embassy and five other people.

The official said it appeared some of the attackers were dressed as Yemeni troops.

CAPTION(S):

Smoke pours from outside the US Embassy in San'a, Yemen, yesterday, after a car bomb exploded in front of the compound gates