Suicide attack kills 2 in central Somalia

By Hassan Istiila

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - At least two people were killed and 15 injured on Sunday in a suspected suicide bombing at a busy restaurant in central Somalia.

“The attacker detonated his suicide belt in Beledweyne town [in Hiran region near the Ethiopian border],” said Omar Adan, the local governor.

The casualties include three journalists and several civilians, he added.

Mohammed Ali, a medical officer, said he had received 15 injured at the local hospital.

Al-Shabaab, a Somalia-based militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group has been driven out of Somalia's major towns by a UN-mandated African Union force (Amisom) of some 18,000 soldiers, but still controls large parts of southern Somalia.