SANAA- Large parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, have been left without electricity after Yemeni tribesmen attacked power lines on Thursday Sept. 19, a Yemeni official said.

The attack in the Maarib province resulted in a key power station shutting down and came less than 24 hours after tribesmen targeted another part of the grid, a day earlier.

The source said that tribesmen carried out the attack to pressure government into paying them financial compensation that they say has been promised by authorities.

Yemeni tribesmen frequently attack oil pipelines and have targeted power lines. But they have not caused such widespread blackouts before. Attacks on oil and gas lines have also been carried out by al-Qaeda-linked militants.