Sana'a - Al-Qaeda was behind Friday's car bomb attack on a police compound in south-eastern Yemen, a local official said Saturday.

A suicide attacker rammed an explosive-laden car into the compound in Sayoun city of Hadharmout province, 900 kilometres south-east of Sana'a, killing himself and a policeman and injuring 18 others including seven women.

"All evidence gathered by the investigation team shows the involvement of al-Qaeda organisation," Hadhramout Governor Ahmed Salem al-Khanbashi said in a statement posted on the defence ministry's website.

"The same scenario and materials used in previous al-Qaeda attacks were used in this attack," the governor said. Police identified the attacker, but the name would be withheld for final investigations.

The attacker drove a white sedan at high speed and tried to force his way into the compound's central yard. The car blew up after a police guard tried to stop it at the entrance of the complex.

"The explosion was strong to the extent that it caused damage to eight houses nearby," the governor said. Seven women in those houses were wounded. (dpa)