UPDATE - Bomb blasts in southern Somalia kill at least 20

UPDATES CASUALTIES, ADDS MORE DETAILS; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - At least 20 people including a senior official were killed and several wounded in double explosions in Somalia on Wednesday, a police officer said.

The officer in the town of Merca, Lower Shabelle told Anadolu Agency by phone that the Merca suicide bombing killed more than 13 people, including the town’s mayor, Abdullahi Ali Wafow, plus security guards and civilians.

Several others who were wounded were taken to hospitals for treatment.

Merca, 90 kilometers (55 miles) from the Somali capital Mogadishu, is a major town that houses several African Union peacekeeping mission contingents. The attack took place near the Merca administration headquarters.

Abdiasis Mahamed Laftagareen, president of the Southwest State, condemned the suicide bombing and the killing of the mayor, calling him "one of the best civil servants" in the Horn of Africa country.

Terrorist group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility, saying one of its bombers had carried out the attack.

In the same region, a landmine explosion rocked a busy livestock market in the town of Afgooye, killing at least seven people and wounding more than 14 others, according to regional security officials in the Lower Shabelle region.

The attack in Afgooye also devastated nearby buildings and shops, according to Mohamed Hassan, an eyewitness who spoke to Anadolu Agency over the phone.

Afgooye is located 30 km (18 mi) southwest of Mogadishu.​​​​​​