"The secretary general calls on all in Yemen to reject the use of violence in all its forms and manifestations, and expects them (to) play a full and constructive role in implementing Yemen's political transition agreement," Ban said in a written statement.

The Security Council released a statement vowing combat "all forms of terrorism" and condmening the attack "in the strongest terms." The bombing, council members said, reaffirmed "terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security."

A Yemeni soldier packing powerful explosives under his uniform blew himself up in the middle of an army battalion in Sanaa Monday, killing 96 troops and wounding around 300, a military official and medics said.

"This criminal act cannot be justified by any cause," Ban said. "Its perpetrators must be held accountable."

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula later claimed responsibility for the massive blast, which, according to witnesses, echoed loudly across the city, causing panic among residents.

The attack was the deadliest in the country's capital since newly elected President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi pledged to oust Al-Qaeda militants from Yemen's mostly lawless and restive southern and eastern provinces.

Hadi assumed power in February after being elected in a single-candidate vote as stipulated by the Gulf-sponsored transition deal that forced out longtime leader Ali Abdullah Saleh.

"France will continue to support the Yemen government and people in their fight against terrorism," Hollande, who is attending a NATO summit in Chicago, was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Elysee palace in Paris.

"France salutes the courage demonstrated by all those in Yemen fighting against terrorism and expresses, in these tragic circumstances, its full solidarity with the victims of this attack and sends its condolences to their families, whose sorrow it shares," the statement said.

A Yemeni soldier packing powerful explosives under his uniform blew himself up in the middle of an army battalion in Sanaa Monday, killing 96 troops and wounding around 300, a military official and medics said.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula later claimed responsibility for the massive blast, which, according to witnesses, echoed loudly across the city, causing panic among residents.

The attack was the deadliest in the country's capital since newly elected President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi pledged to oust Al-Qaeda militants from Yemen's mostly lawless and restive southern and eastern provinces.

Hadi assumed power in February after being elected in a single-candidate vote as stipulated by the Gulf-sponsored transition deal that forced out longtime leader Ali Abdullah Saleh.

EU condemns 'terrible' attack in Yemen
Brussels (AFP) May 21, 2012 - The European Union condemned a "brutal and terrible" attack claimed by Al-Qaeda in Yemen on Monday that saw a soldier blow himself up in the middle of an army battalion, killing 96 troops.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement that she "expresses her total condemnation of today's terrible and brutal attack on Yemeni soldiers, who were rehearsing for the national day parade."

The 27-nation bloc "is deeply concerned by all attempts to derail Yemen's transition," Ashton said in a statement.

She added that the EU was "fully committed" to assist President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi in "exploring all available options to ensure compliance from any individuals who persist in undermining or opposing the political transition in Yemen."

President Hadi said after a soldier detonated explosives under his uniform that "the war on terror will continue until it is completely destroyed regardless of the sacrifices."

Earlier on Monday, the EU unblocked an extra five million euros ($6.4 million) for Yemen to help fight mounting malnutrition in what it said was a "desperate" food crisis affecting almost half of the population.

"The crisis in Yemen has gone from bad to desperate," said Kristalina Georgieva, European commissioner for humanitarian aid.

She said with 44 percent of the people surviving on meagre food rations, the EU executive was increasing its aid "not just because we must prevent malnutrition from rising further but also because hunger and suffering can only destabilise the fragile ongoing transition."

"Yemeni people desperately need international support to rebuild their lives," she said in a statement. "Ignoring this would bear tremendous risks for the region and the world."

The Commission has already mobilised 20 million euros in humanitarian aid for Yemen this year, and the new funds will increase and improve access to clean water, support feeding programmes, develop cash-for-work schemes and provide cash grants for 200,000 people.

Yemen is the poorest country in the Arab Peninsula, with more than 40 percent of people living below the poverty line.