Sana'a (Yemen), March 8 (DPA) An Al Qaeda suspect was shot and arrested by police after he shot dead a guard and held two others hostage at a hospital in the Yemeni capital Sana'a Sunday, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry identified the suspect as a German national of Somali origin named Sharif Mobily.

It said a policeman escorting the suspect was killed and another injured during a gunbattle with him in the al-Jumhori hospital.

The suspect exchanged fire with an anti-terrorism unit that stormed the hospital after he snatched a pistol from one of three police guards escorting him during his medical treatment and shot him dead, Colonel Muhammad Messar told DPA.

'The suspect was injured and arrested,' he said.

'He is now being treated at the military hospital in Sana'a,' he added.

He said the man was originally held at the intelligence prison in Sana'a and was taken to the hospital after he claimed to be ill.