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Somalia car bomb suicide attack 'kills 12' | Somalia car bomb suicide attack 'kills 12' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A suicide car bomber has killed 12 people in an attack aimed at African Union (AU) troops in Somalia, an official has said. | A suicide car bomber has killed 12 people in an attack aimed at African Union (AU) troops in Somalia, an official has said. |
A car laden with explosives was rammed into an AU convoy travelling south-west of the capital, Mogadishu, said local governor Adukadir Mohamed Sidi. | A car laden with explosives was rammed into an AU convoy travelling south-west of the capital, Mogadishu, said local governor Adukadir Mohamed Sidi. |
The militant Islamist group al-Shabab said it was behind the attack. It had earlier vowed to avenge the killing of its leader Ahmed Abdi Godane last week. | |
Godane died in a US air strike. | |
Monday's attack took place on the road between Mogadishu and Afgoye town, some 30km (19 miles) from the capital. | |
"The car packed with explosives hit one of the armoured trucks," Mr Sidi told the Agence France-Presse news agency. | "The car packed with explosives hit one of the armoured trucks," Mr Sidi told the Agence France-Presse news agency. |
"Twelve civilians in a minibus were killed, and 27 others were wounded," he said. | "Twelve civilians in a minibus were killed, and 27 others were wounded," he said. |
The BBC's Mohamed Moalimu in Mogadishu says the injured include AU soldiers. | The BBC's Mohamed Moalimu in Mogadishu says the injured include AU soldiers. |
Mr Sidi told him the wounded were being rushed to hospital in Mogadishu. | Mr Sidi told him the wounded were being rushed to hospital in Mogadishu. |
Witnesses reported a huge blast and wave of fire, with civilians on the busy highway between the town and the capital caught up in the explosion, AFP reports . | Witnesses reported a huge blast and wave of fire, with civilians on the busy highway between the town and the capital caught up in the explosion, AFP reports . |
"I saw two minibuses with pools of blood. Many civilians were killed. The explosion was enormous," it quoted a witness, Ali Muhidin, as saying. | "I saw two minibuses with pools of blood. Many civilians were killed. The explosion was enormous," it quoted a witness, Ali Muhidin, as saying. |
The bombing came as New York-based rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused AU troops of raping women and girls in Somalia. | The bombing came as New York-based rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused AU troops of raping women and girls in Somalia. |
The AU has some 22,000 troops battling al-Shabab in Somalia since 2007. | The AU has some 22,000 troops battling al-Shabab in Somalia since 2007. |
On Saturday, al-Shabab named Ahmad Umar, who is also known as Abu Ubaidah, as its leader. | On Saturday, al-Shabab named Ahmad Umar, who is also known as Abu Ubaidah, as its leader. |
Godane was killed last Monday when US drones and manned aircrafts fired missiles and laser-guided bombs on an encampment and convoy of vehicles about 240km south of Mogadishu. | Godane was killed last Monday when US drones and manned aircrafts fired missiles and laser-guided bombs on an encampment and convoy of vehicles about 240km south of Mogadishu. |
His killing came just days after AU and Somali government troops launched Operation Indian Ocean to seize territory from al-Shabab. | His killing came just days after AU and Somali government troops launched Operation Indian Ocean to seize territory from al-Shabab. |
The al-Qaeda-linked group controls much territory in rural Somalia, but has been driven out of Mogadishu and other major towns and cities. |