6 killed in twin explosions in Mogadishu

At least six persons including two soldiers have been killed and several others injured in two separate explosions here.

The police and witnesses said on Friday the first explosion occurred at a checkpoint along the road near the airport in Mogadishu after the vehicle had been intercepted by the security officers manning the checkpoint. The blast injured three soldiers while a bomber died, Xinhua reported.

"The second blast occurred an hour later at another checkpoint in Sei piano in Hodan district (west of Mogadishu) a few minutes after Friday prayers," said a police officer who declined to be named.

He said two soldiers were killed after the security forces killed three militants who had passed through the checkpoint with vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).

Internal Security spokesman Abdiaziz Ali Ibrahim said security forces managed to thwart the deadly attack by the extremists.

Ibrahim said the security officers managed to stop the suicide bomber but noted that the vehicle exploded after the security forces barred it from entering the road to the airport.

--IANS

pgh/