There's been an explosion on an oil pipeline in eastern Yemen operated by the American company, Hunt Oil.

A technical team has been sent to the site, in the Sirwa region, to repair the damage.

The authorities say the pipeline has been targetted nearly thirty times in the past seventeen months, by tribesmen in dispute with the government and foreign companies.

Police also say they are searching for a leader of the Khawlan tribe, through whose land the pipeline runs, on suspicion of planning attacks on the pipeline and kidnapping foreigners. Correspondents say tribesmen -- who feel they are not getting a fair share of the rewards -- have targeted the pipeline in the past, mainly to try to force the government to improve services to the area.