Female lawmaker among 15 killed in Somalia attacks

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - At least 15 people, including female lawmaker Amina Mohamed Abdi, were killed in bomb blasts in the city of Beledweyne late Wednesday, police said.

Abdullahi Ahmed, a local police officer in the region, told Anadolu Agency that there were two explosions, which also wounded several people.

The bombings came ahead of parliamentary elections in the town, and Mohamed was said to be in the city to defend her seat.

The official Somali National News Agency said the terrorist attacks took place near the Hirshabelle Presidential Palace.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble condemned the "cowardly" attacks.

Farmaajo sent his "deepest condolences to the family and relatives of Amina Mohamed," his office said on Twitter.

Roble in a statement described Mohamed as an "advocate for justice and rights of citizens," saying the bombings were aimed at disrupting the elections and intimidating the Somali people and international partners.

He said the government is committed to concluding the elections and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Al-Shabaab, the al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group in the East African country, claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Hours earlier, gunmen attacked the heavily guarded Adan Adde International Airport in the capital Mogadishu, killing at least six people.

Last week, Somalia again pushed back the deadline for completing lower house elections until March 31, a process already more than a year overdue.