Africa News
Somalia's defence minister survives bomb attack
Feb 15, 2010, 14:42 GMT
Nairobi - Somalia's defence minister on Monday survived a suicide bomb attack in the war-torn capital Mogadishu.
Yusuf Mohamed Siyad said that a bomber drove toward his car and detonated explosives, injuring two of his bodyguards. Local media reported that five civilians were killed in the blast.
Islamist insurgent group al-Shabaab, which is battling to topple the weak Western-backed government, claimed responsibility for the attack.
A suicide bombing late last year claimed the lives of four ministers.
The assassination attempt came amid rumours of a government assault on al-Shabaab's positions in Mogadishu.
Hundreds of heavily armed insurgents poured into Mogadishu last week to counter a government build up of forces.
Thousands of civilians have fled the city in anticipation of heavy fighting.
The Horn of African nation has been embroiled in chaos since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.
More than 20,000 people have died in the current insurgency, which kicked off in early 2007 after Ethiopian forces invaded to oust an Islamist regime that ruled for six months in 2006.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Africa
- 1. Several dead in car bombing in northern Nigeria
- 2. Mogadishu blast kills seven, including sports chiefs
- 3. Seven dead in Mogadishu suicide bomb attack
- 4. ANC suspends Youth League leader with immediate effect
- 5. Police arrest Uganda's opposition leader and others at protest march
Older Talkback
