The death toll from a suicide blast in Yemen has risen to 96 soldiers. Over 300 were wounded. The troops were practicing for a national day parade in the capital Sanaa, the latest media reports say.

Dozens of ambulances have rushed to the scene to get wounded to hospitals.

The bomber, who was reportedly wearing military uniform or was a soldier himself, targeted servicemen as they marched through al-Sabeen Square near the presidential palace. President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi is due to attend the parade.

The military event is scheduled for Tuesday to mark Yemen's National Unity Day, the 22nd anniversary of the country's reunion between the former North and South Yemen.

The military officials do not exclude Al-Qaeda links of the blast since the army has been successfully fighting its militants over the last week in the southern Abyan governorate of Yemen.