News / Nigeria

Five dead in Mogadishu bombing as PM unveils new lineup

Tuesday, 21 March 2017 4:43 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 21 March 2017 4:53 PM ]

Firefighters extinguish a burning car at the site of an explosion near Wehliye Hotel on Maka al Mukaram street in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, March 13, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

At least five people were killed when a vehicle laden with explosives blew up in Mogadishu on Tuesday, a local official said, the latest attack in the troubled Somali capital.

The blast occurred at a checkpoint near the presidential palace just as the Horn of Africa country's new prime minister unveiled his government lineup.

"The vehicle was stopped at the checkpoint for security screening when it went off. At least five people were killed including security personnel and 10 others wounded," said Abdifatah Omar Halane, spokesman for the Mogadishu administration.

"The blast was so huge, I saw smoke and dust all over the area," witness Abdukadir Yusuf said.

"I was on top of my house not very far away from the area, it was near the theatre and close to the presidential palace."

Somalia's new Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre earlier Tuesday unveiled his new cabinet, made up of 26 ministers including six women, after almost a month of political bargaining.

The Al-Qaeda-linked Shabab militant group, which is fighting to overthrow the government, has been blamed for a string of attacks in Mogadishu.

The Shabab was forced out of the capital by African Union troops in 2011 but still controls parts of the countryside and carries out attacks against government, military and civilian targets in Mogadishu and regional towns.

(Source: AFP)

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