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| Suicide blast by offices of Somalia president and PM | Suicide blast by offices of Somalia president and PM |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two security guards have been killed in a suicide attack near the offices of Somalia's president and prime minister. | Two security guards have been killed in a suicide attack near the offices of Somalia's president and prime minister. |
| Three other guards were also wounded when the assailant blew himself up at a checkpoint near the compound housing the offices in the capital, Mogadishu. | |
| The bomber was an ex-Islamist militant recently sacked from his job in the intelligence services, officials said. | The bomber was an ex-Islamist militant recently sacked from his job in the intelligence services, officials said. |
| Militants aligned to al-Qaeda have lost control of major towns in the last 18 months but still carry out attacks. | Militants aligned to al-Qaeda have lost control of major towns in the last 18 months but still carry out attacks. |
| The president and prime minister took office following elections last September which were considered the first fair polls in Somalia for 42 years. | The president and prime minister took office following elections last September which were considered the first fair polls in Somalia for 42 years. |
| Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, an academic and civic activist, beat the incumbent in a run-off vote by MPs to become president. | Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, an academic and civic activist, beat the incumbent in a run-off vote by MPs to become president. |
| He then appointed his close associate, former businessman Abdi Farah Shirdon, as prime minister. | He then appointed his close associate, former businessman Abdi Farah Shirdon, as prime minister. |
| 'Heroic' | 'Heroic' |
| The attacker detonated his explosives when he was questioned at a checkpoint into Villa Somalia, a sprawling compound that houses both the president's and prime minister's offices, officials said. | The attacker detonated his explosives when he was questioned at a checkpoint into Villa Somalia, a sprawling compound that houses both the president's and prime minister's offices, officials said. |
| Information Minister Abdullahi Hersi said the bomber, a former member of the Islamist militant group al-Shabab, had been an employee of the intelligence services until recently. | Information Minister Abdullahi Hersi said the bomber, a former member of the Islamist militant group al-Shabab, had been an employee of the intelligence services until recently. |
| The African Union (AU) mission in Somalia - which has 18,000 troops in the country supporting and training government troops - said the bomber blew himself up as he was chased away from the checkpoint. | The African Union (AU) mission in Somalia - which has 18,000 troops in the country supporting and training government troops - said the bomber blew himself up as he was chased away from the checkpoint. |
| "The heroic actions of the dead soldier and his compatriots have saved many Somali lives," said Mohamat Annadif, the AU's special representative on Somalia, said in a statement. | "The heroic actions of the dead soldier and his compatriots have saved many Somali lives," said Mohamat Annadif, the AU's special representative on Somalia, said in a statement. |
| Correspondents say it is not clear if Prime Minister Shirdon was in the compound at the time. President Mohamud was not in the country. | Correspondents say it is not clear if Prime Minister Shirdon was in the compound at the time. President Mohamud was not in the country. |
| Their new government is trying to rebuild Somalia after more than 20 years of conflict - | Their new government is trying to rebuild Somalia after more than 20 years of conflict - |
| One of its biggest challenges is how to deal with al-Shabab, which has joined al-Qaeda and still controls large areas of southern and central Somalia. | One of its biggest challenges is how to deal with al-Shabab, which has joined al-Qaeda and still controls large areas of southern and central Somalia. |
| The BBC's Abdullahi Abdi, reporting from Kenya, says that the number of suicide attacks in Mogadishu has decreased since the withdrawal of al-Shabab from the capital in August 2011. | The BBC's Abdullahi Abdi, reporting from Kenya, says that the number of suicide attacks in Mogadishu has decreased since the withdrawal of al-Shabab from the capital in August 2011. |
| But the latest attack shows that the militants still pose a threat to the city's security, he adds. | But the latest attack shows that the militants still pose a threat to the city's security, he adds. |
| Meanwhile, the United Nations World Food Programme has announced that it has resumed distribution of food aid in the southern port city of Kismayo for the first time in four years. | Meanwhile, the United Nations World Food Programme has announced that it has resumed distribution of food aid in the southern port city of Kismayo for the first time in four years. |
| The WFP and other international aid organisations have not been allowed to work in areas controlled by al-Shabab. | The WFP and other international aid organisations have not been allowed to work in areas controlled by al-Shabab. |
| Feeding centres providing hot meals for 15,000 people have been set up in Kismayo, which AU and government forces recaptured last September. | Feeding centres providing hot meals for 15,000 people have been set up in Kismayo, which AU and government forces recaptured last September. |
| A recent survey showed high levels of malnutrition and food insecurity in the city, the WFP said. | A recent survey showed high levels of malnutrition and food insecurity in the city, the WFP said. |
| "The survey showed that almost half the households in Kismayo are really struggling to meet their daily needs, and 24% of children below the age of five are malnourished," Stefano Porretti, WFP's representative in Somalia, said in a statement. | "The survey showed that almost half the households in Kismayo are really struggling to meet their daily needs, and 24% of children below the age of five are malnourished," Stefano Porretti, WFP's representative in Somalia, said in a statement. |
| Years of fighting between rival clan-based warlords as well as Islamist militants has led to an inability in the drought-prone country to deal with hunger and disease. | Years of fighting between rival clan-based warlords as well as Islamist militants has led to an inability in the drought-prone country to deal with hunger and disease. |