• Tools:
• Save |
• Print |
• E-mail |
• Most Popular |

Car bomb attack kills 8 in Somalia

Adjust font size:

MOGADISHU, Somalia (CNN) -- A car bomb targeting Somalia's transitional president, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, killed eight people Monday outside Somalia's parliament in Baidoa, according to presidential and hospital sources.

Ahmed was inside the parliament building when the car bomb detonated in a nearby compound. He was not harmed.

The explosion wounded dozens and destroyed eight cars.

Baidoa is the temporary seat of the United Nations-backed transitional government, which wields little power.

Somalia's last functioning government collapsed in 1991.

In early June, the Islamic Courts Union militia wrested control of Mogadishu from a U.S.-backed coalition of secular warlords.

The U.S. State Department has expressed concern over reports in recent months that militias were advancing toward Baidoa.

In late July, gunmen shot and killed a minister in the interim government as he left a mosque in Baidoa. It is unclear who was behind the killing.

Journalist Mohammed Amiin contributed to this report.

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.

---

• Wrestlers grapple with issues in, out of ring
• Are Zhu Zhu pets safe? Consumer group says no
• Texas escapee joins most-wanted list
• Knox prosecutor: It's not over till it's over
• Ronaldo the hero for Real despite sending-off

• Irish PM to quit over payments scandal
• NATO chief: Afghan troop increase likely
• Militants hunted as calm retuns to Basra
• Pressure on Bush to skip Olympics
• BA sending misplaced T5 baggage to Milan

• Recruiting suicide bombers (2:50)
• London was lucky (2:36)
• Cars in London rigged as bombs (3:48)
• Second explosives-packed car foun (2:32)
• Soviet culture returns (3:47)