An explosion has rocked the building housing Somalia's interim parliament in the town of Baidoa, killing four people and injuring several.
An explosion has rocked the building housing Somalia's interim parliament in the town of Baidoa, killing four people and injuring several.
The suspected car bomb went off soon after a convoy left carrying President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed but it is thought the leader escaped unharmed.
The suspected car bomb went off soon after a convoy left carrying President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed but it is thought the leader escaped unharmed.
Two bombs are said to have exploded and at least five cars were on fire outside the building, a BBC reporter says.
Two bombs are said to have exploded and at least five cars were on fire outside the building, a BBC reporter says.
The interim government controls only Baidoa and a small area around it.
The interim government controls only Baidoa and a small area around it.
The capital, Mogadishu, and other parts of the country are run by the Union of Islamic Courts militia.
The capital, Mogadishu, and other parts of the country are run by the Union of Islamic Courts militia.
Pool of blood
Pool of blood
A Somali police official in Baidoa said he had counted four dead bodies.
A Somali police official in Baidoa said he had counted four dead bodies.
"I saw four dead people lying in front of the parliament in a pool of blood," Shirre Moalim Nur, deputy police commissioner for the Bay region around Baidoa, told AFP news agency.
"I saw four dead people lying in front of the parliament in a pool of blood," Shirre Moalim Nur, deputy police commissioner for the Bay region around Baidoa, told AFP news agency.
Shino Moalim, a government official, confirmed the figure of four dead, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Shino Moalim, a government official, confirmed the figure of four dead, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Somali Foreign Minister Ismail Hurre told Reuters news agency from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, that the president was "fine" after the blast.
Somali Foreign Minister Ismail Hurre told Reuters news agency from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, that the president was "fine" after the blast.
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