In Yemen police use Kalashnikovs guns to jump start a car

DOES the Swiss Army knife have a contender for the title of most handy tool? This one can be used in battle, at weddings - and to jump-start cars.

The ubiquitous Kalashnikov assault rifle has come to the rescue of several embattled Yemeni policemen.

Not in a firefight.

Instead, it was in firing-up their unreliable car.

The problem: A flat battery.

The solution - two Kalashnikovs and some lengths of wire.

The application: Linking the battery terminals between two cars in order to give one a jump-start.

The Al Arabiya News Channel has broadcast the incident to highlight the challenges faced by the small Middle-Eastern nation's police force.

The country, which sits between Saudi Arabia and the Gulf of Aden, has a population of 23 million and 50 million firearms.

The Kalashnikov automatic rifle has been the favourite of military and police forces - as well as rebels and insurgents - for decades due to its simple and rugged design.

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