Yemeni officials say a suicide bomber killed at least 63 people when he blew himself up in the middle of a group of soldiers practicing for a military parade.

Officials said Monday's attack in the capital, Sanaa, wounded dozens of others. Bodies covered the ground as military personnel frantically rushed to secure the scene.

Yemen's defense minister was at the rehearsal during the blast but was unharmed.

The soldiers were preparing for a parade on Tuesday to mark the unification of Yemen's north and south.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Yemen is home to al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which is known as one of the terrorist group's most dangerous offshoots.

Separatists in Yemen's south also target the military.