Categories: Global

8 killed, 16 hurt as explosions rock Somalia’s capital

MOGADISHU (AP): A pair of explosions rocked Somalia’s capital and left eight people dead, the director of an ambulance service said Saturday.

Another 16 people were wounded, some of them seriously, Dr. Abdiqadir Aden with the Aamin ambulance service told The Associated Press.

He said a car bomb detonated near the Somali parliament headquarters in Mogadishu and caused the most damage.

The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group which often targets the capital with high-profile bombings quickly claimed responsibility for the latest attack.

Al-Shabab said the blasts were meant to strike the first line of security checkpoints for the heavily fortified airport and the presidential palace.

The airport is home to a number of diplomatic offices. The palace is a frequent al-Shabab target.

The United States military has dramatically increased the number of airstrikes against al-Shabab in the past couple of years, seeking to limit the territory the group controls in central and southern Somalia and make it more difficult for fighters to circulate.

In a report to the United Nations Security Council circulated last month, U.N. chief Antonio Guterres noted an increase in security operations “and a large number of airstrikes targeting al-Shabab training bases and assembly points” that were deemed to have degraded its operating capability and freedom of movement.

“They have also led, however, to increased al-Shabab movement into urban centers, in particular Mogadishu, where their forces are less likely to be targeted from the air,” he said.

Guterres added that Somalia is making progress toward building a functioning state after three decades of civil war, extremist attacks and famine but that insecurity, political instability and corruption remain major challenges.

The multinational African Union force in Somalia continues to gradually withdraw personnel in preparation for Somali government forces to assume responsibility for the country’s security. Those forces, however, have been described by U.S. military officials and others as not yet ready for the job.

The Frontier Post

Recent Posts

Pro-Palestinian protesters at USC comply with school order

CALIFORNIA : Protesters began leaving a Pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Southern California early…

27 mins ago

Hamas says latest cease-fire talks have ended

JERUSALEM (AP): The latest round of Gaza cease-fire talks ended in Cairo after “in-depth and…

32 mins ago

PTI incited people to come on streets on May 9: Sharjeel

F.P. Report KARACHI: Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit,…

44 mins ago

Oversight board discusses polio eradication with CM KP

F.P. Report PESHAWAR: A representative delegation of Polio Oversight Board led by Dr. Christopher Alias…

44 mins ago

Saudi trade delegation arrives in Pakista

ISLAMABAD (APP): A 50-member high-level Saudi trade delegation led by the Deputy Investment Minister of…

44 mins ago

This website uses cookies.