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| Somali leader survives bomb blast | Somali leader survives bomb blast |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 11 people have died in an apparent bid to assassinate Somalia's interim president outside parliament in the town of Baidoa, say officials. | At least 11 people have died in an apparent bid to assassinate Somalia's interim president outside parliament in the town of Baidoa, say officials. |
| A suspected car bomb went off soon after a convoy left carrying President Abdullahi Yusuf. The leader is said to be unharmed but his brother was killed. | A suspected car bomb went off soon after a convoy left carrying President Abdullahi Yusuf. The leader is said to be unharmed but his brother was killed. |
| A second blast went off near the first, setting at least five cars ablaze. | |
| Mr Yusuf has strained relations with an Islamist group which controls much of southern Somalia. | Mr Yusuf has strained relations with an Islamist group which controls much of southern Somalia. |
| I saw a white car explode... There were screams everywhere Eyewitness Sahad Mohamed Abukar Eyewitness: Baidoa rocked The interim government controls only Baidoa and a small area around it. | I saw a white car explode... There were screams everywhere Eyewitness Sahad Mohamed Abukar Eyewitness: Baidoa rocked The interim government controls only Baidoa and a small area around it. |
| The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) deny US accusations that they are linked to al-Qaeda. | The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) deny US accusations that they are linked to al-Qaeda. |
| The blasts came as MPs started a key session to approve the new cabinet and whether the government should share power with the UIC. | The blasts came as MPs started a key session to approve the new cabinet and whether the government should share power with the UIC. |
| Despite the blasts, the MPs went ahead with their meeting in a converted warehouse which serves as parliament and approved the new government line-up. | Despite the blasts, the MPs went ahead with their meeting in a converted warehouse which serves as parliament and approved the new government line-up. |
| Correspondents say the blasts are bound to further heighten tension in war-torn Somalia, which has not had a functioning national government for 15 years. | Correspondents say the blasts are bound to further heighten tension in war-torn Somalia, which has not had a functioning national government for 15 years. |
| Ten days ago, Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade, the warlord who controls Baidoa, told the BBC that militiamen would eject government members by force if they did not withdraw from Baidoa peacefully. | Ten days ago, Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade, the warlord who controls Baidoa, told the BBC that militiamen would eject government members by force if they did not withdraw from Baidoa peacefully. |
| Pool of blood | Pool of blood |
| "I saw a white car explode in front of the parliament, demolishing seven other cars nearby," witness Sahad Mohamed Abukar told AFP news agency. | "I saw a white car explode in front of the parliament, demolishing seven other cars nearby," witness Sahad Mohamed Abukar told AFP news agency. |
| "There were screams everywhere." | "There were screams everywhere." |
| In pictures: Baidoa blasts | In pictures: Baidoa blasts |
| Somali Foreign Minister Ismail Hurre said the attack had been an assassination attempt on the president. | Somali Foreign Minister Ismail Hurre said the attack had been an assassination attempt on the president. |
| "Five people were killed from the presidential convoy and three wounded," the minister told reporters in the Kenyan capital. | "Five people were killed from the presidential convoy and three wounded," the minister told reporters in the Kenyan capital. |
| "Six attackers were also killed and two captured." | "Six attackers were also killed and two captured." |
| He said he did not want to speculate on who was behind the attacks but said whoever was responsible wanted peace talks with the UIC set for 30 September to fail. | He said he did not want to speculate on who was behind the attacks but said whoever was responsible wanted peace talks with the UIC set for 30 September to fail. |
| Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi told the BBC that President Yusuf was alive and well. | Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Ghedi told the BBC that President Yusuf was alive and well. |
| Local journalist Mohamed Adawe said the blast came 10 minutes after the president had delivered a speech. | Local journalist Mohamed Adawe said the blast came 10 minutes after the president had delivered a speech. |
| President Yusuf wants foreign peacekeepers sent to Somalia - a suggestion strongly rejected by the Islamists, who say they can take care of security. | President Yusuf wants foreign peacekeepers sent to Somalia - a suggestion strongly rejected by the Islamists, who say they can take care of security. |
| Meanwhile, a group of Italian Catholic nuns are being evacuated from the capital, Mogadishu, after one of their elderly colleagues was shot dead on Sunday by gunmen; the UIC condemned the killing. | Meanwhile, a group of Italian Catholic nuns are being evacuated from the capital, Mogadishu, after one of their elderly colleagues was shot dead on Sunday by gunmen; the UIC condemned the killing. |
| Did you witness the explosion outside Somalia's interim parliament in Baidoa? Please send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Did you witness the explosion outside Somalia's interim parliament in Baidoa? Please send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |