Suicide Bomber Detonates near Somalia's Presidential Palace
Police said a suicide bomber died and seven civilians were wounded when a vehicle exploded near a checkpoint outside the presidential palace in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.
Police spokesman Sadiq Ali Adan
said the driver defied orders to stop on Saturday morning, and police opened
fire as passersby ran for their lives.
He revealed more than a dozen
vehicles were destroyed in the blast.
This latest bombing occurred as
Somali politicians argue over how to hold a national election. The vote had
been scheduled for Feb. 8, and some argue that President Mohamed Abdullahi
Mohamed has overstayed his mandate. He seeks a second four-year term. More
talks on the election crisis are set for Monday.
The al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab
extremist group based in Somalia often targets high-profile areas of Mogadishu.
It has threatened to attack the polls.
