At least two Somali government soldiers were killed in a roadside bomb blast on Tuesday as they were travelling in a village on the outskirts of the country's capital Mogadishu, officials said.
"Two of our soldiers were killed in the blast, a cowardly act by terrorists," military officer Mahad Hayow Sayid told Xinhua news agency.
"This incident will not stop us from combatting terrorist groups," Sayid added.
Lower Shabelle Mayor Abdulkadir Nur Sidi told Xinhua earlier that the bomb targeted a convoy of government troops.
Somali militant group Al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.