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A suicide bomber killed at least 33 people in central Yemen on Wednesday when he blew himself up at a cultural center where students were celebrating the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed.

The bodies, including those of women and children, were transferred to two hospitals and residents said a province governor was among the wounded.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack but it resembled previous ones carried out by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula which operates in Yemen and regards Shi'ites as heretics.