A roadside bomb has killed at least 15 people in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, witnesses say.
A roadside bomb has killed at least 20 people in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, witnesses have said.
The explosion hit a group of women gathered to clean the street, witnesses said. They told of bloody scenes with several dozen people injured.
Most of the dead in the explosion were women who had gathered to clean the streets, they said.
One witness told the AFP agency most of the dead were female street cleaners.
Reports say the bomb was hidden under a pile of rubbish on the main road to Mogadishu airport.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but tensions are high in Mogadishu as Ethiopian troops battle Islamist insurgents.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but tensions are high as Somalia's government and Ethiopian troops battle Islamist insurgents.
"They were cleaning the street when this huge explosion rocked the entire neighbourhood," eyewitness Hasan Abdi Mohamed told the AFP news agency.
Roadside bombs are frequently used by insurgents fighting the transitional government and its Ethiopian allies.
Civilian death-toll
"They were cleaning the street when this huge explosion rocked the entire neighbourhood," eyewitness Hassan Abdi Mohamed told the AFP news agency.
"I counted 15 bodies, most of them are women who were torn to pieces," he added.
"I counted 15 bodies, most of them are women who were torn to pieces," he added.
Forty-seven wounded people - mostly women and children - were admitted to Mogadishu's Medina hospital, officials said.
The UN says 1.5 million people have fled after recent fighting.
The UN says 1.5 million people have fled after recent fighting.
Somalia's opposition groups, which include Islamists ousted from power in 2006, are opposed to Ethiopian troops remaining in Somalia.
Somalia's opposition groups, which include Islamists ousted from power in 2006, are opposed to Ethiopian troops remaining in Somalia.
According to one estimate, more than 8,000 civilians have been killed and one million forced from their homes since the start of last year by fighting between the interim government and the insurgents.
According to one estimate, more than 8,000 civilians have been killed and one million forced from their homes since the start of last year by fighting between the interim government and the insurgents.
African Union troops have not been able to quell the violence, which has triggered what aid workers say may be the worst humanitarian crisis in Africa.
Somalia has been devastated by conflict since 1991, when former President Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted.
Are you in the area? Did you witness the explosion?
Are you in the area? Did you witness the explosion?
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Send your comments using the post form below, or text 00 44 7725 800 100.
