UPDATE Somalia: Al-Shabaab attack kills 8

UPDATES WITH NEW ATTACK

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - At least five people were killed on Thursday when al-Shabaab fighters attacked a military convoy in Somalia, police and local media said.

The attack took place on the outskirts of the agriculture town of Afgoye in the Lower Shabelle region, said Radio Shabelle.

The fatalities include security officials and al-Shabaab fighters.

Hussien Abdi, a police officer in the town of Afgoye, also confirmed the attack to Anadolu Agency over the phone without giving any other details.

The attack comes as the Somali National Army (SNA) backed by African Union peacekeeping forces (AMISOM) in Somalia are gaining significant ground against al-Shabaab in the region.

Later, in a separate attack, at least three people -- mostly civilians -- were killed and more than five wounded in a landmine blast in the town of Awdhegle, officials and local media said.

Mohamud Adan, national army officer in the region, told Anadolu Agency over the phone that the attack came through a landmine targeting civilians working on sanitation near a military post, also in the Lower Shabelle region.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the deadly attack but authorities in the region blamed al-Shabaab.