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Blast goes off in street leading to presidential palace in Yemeni capital, 3 wounded

Associated Press
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A supporter of Houthi Shiites, who took over the government of Yemen and installed a new committee to govern, holds a Yemeni flag during a rally in support of the Houthis, at a sports stadium in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. A group of Gulf countries denounced the Shiite rebel takeover of Yemen as a "coup" Saturday, calling for the United Nations to take action as thousands demonstrated in the streets against their power grab. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) (The Associated Press)

Supporters of Houthi Shiites, who took over the government of Yemen and installed a new committee to govern, dance with traditional daggers at a rally in support of the Houthis, at a sports stadium in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. A group of Gulf countries denounced the Shiite rebel takeover of Yemen as a "coup" Saturday, calling for the United Nations to take action as thousands demonstrated in the streets against their power grab. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) (The Associated Press)

Supporters of Houthi Shiites, who took over the government of Yemen and installed a new committee to govern, wave traditional daggers and dance at a rally in support of the Houthis, at a sports stadium in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. The six Arab countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council denounced the Shiite rebel takeover of Yemen as a "coup" Saturday, calling for the United Nations to take action as thousands demonstrated in the streets against their power grab. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) (The Associated Press)

Yemeni security officials say that a device has exploded in a street leading to the capital's presidential palace, wounding three people in the latest violence to hit the volatile country.

Shiite rebels have taken over state institutions, dissolving parliament and installing a new panel to govern the region's poorest nation, home to what Washington considers al-Qaida's most dangerous offshoot.

While Houthi rebels are bitter enemies to al-Qaida, they also are hostile to the United States, and frosty to Yemen's predominantly Sunni northern neighbor, Saudi Arabia. The region's Shiite powerhouse, Iran, looms as a potential key backer.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to release the information otherwise.