SANAA, Dec 5: A gunman fired on the US embassy in the Yemeni capital on Tuesday before being overpowered by police in the latest attack against western interests in the impoverished Arab nation.

The assailant, who was shot and wounded by police guarding the mission after he opened fire with an automatic weapon, was being grilled by the security authorities over the night-time attack, a police officer said.

“We consider this an isolated act, pending the results of the questioning,” a police officer said.

The incident came two days after a Yemeni security source said 22 suspected members of Al-Qaeda accused of plotting attacks on western targets in the country were being questioned by a special anti-terrorist tribunal.—AFP