At least five people were killed when a vehicle laden with explosives blew up in Mogadishu on Tuesday, a local official said, the latest attack in the troubled Somali capital. The blast occurred at a checkpoint near the presidential palace just as the Horn of Africa country's new prime minister unveiled his government line-up.
"The vehicle was stopped at the checkpoint for security screening when it went off. At least five people were killed including security personnel and 10 others wounded," said Abdifatah Omar Halane, spokesman for the Mogadishu administration. "The blast was so huge, I saw smoke and dust all over the area," witness Abdukadir Yusuf said. "I was on top of my house not very far away from the area, it was near the theatre and close to the presidential palace."