Somali Government Spokesperson Targeted For Suicide Bombing

JAKARTA - A spokesman for the Somali government was injured Sunday in an explosion at a crossroads carried out by suicide bombers in the capital Mogadishu, police and the national news agency said.

Reuters photographers at the scene saw human body parts lying on the ground outside the residence of Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, who was rushed to hospital.

"The suicide bomber targeted the government spokesman, who is currently hospitalized for injuries in the explosion," police spokesman Abdifatah Aden told Reuters.

Nasra Bashir Ali, special correspondent for state media at the prime minister's office where Moalimuu serves, said on Twitter the spokesman was not seriously injured in the attack, which targeted him as his vehicle passed.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack. In the past, the al-Shabaab militia linked to al-Qaida has claimed responsibility for a number of armed and bomb attacks against security and government targets, as well as civilians.

Al Shabaab intends to overthrow the United Nations-backed central government. They also carried out attacks on African Union peacekeepers.