Yemen is marking the 22nd anniversary of its unification, a day after a suicide bomber killed at least 96 members of the military and wounded more than 200 during a rehearsal for an independence day parade.

Soldiers participated in a smaller parade that was moved to the grounds of the air force academy in Sana'a Tuesday. Yemeni President Abed Robbo Mansour Hadi watched the festivities from behind a bulletproof glass shield.

Few people ventured out on the streets of the capital due to the fear of more attacks.

Al-Qaida claimed responsibility for Monday's suicide bomb attack. The terrorist group said the assault was revenge for what it called a U.S.-backed war on its followers.

Yemeni officials say a suspected rogue soldier detonated explosives as hundreds of fellow troops lined up to rehearse for the military parade marking the unification of Yemen's north and south.

Yemen's defense minister and chief of staff both were at the Sana'a rehearsal but were unharmed. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula said the defense minister was a target of the bombing and warned of more attacks if the government offensive does not stop.

U.S. President Barack Obama said Washington is very worried about al-Qaida terrorism and extremism in Yemen. Mr. Obama said Yemen's poverty and instability attracts extremists. He said the U.S. would continue to work with the government in Sana'a to identify al-Qaida “leadership and operations and try to thwart them.”

President Hadi, who took office in February, responded to the bombing by vowing to press on with the fight against al-Qaida. He also dismissed two senior Yemeni military commanders who were allies of his predecessor. Mr. Hadi has promised to restructure the military and purge it of Saleh relatives and loyalists suspected of blocking reforms.