​Somalia: At least two soldiers killed in separate bomb attacks

BELEDWEYNE, Somalia- At least two soldiers were killed, and several other wounded in two separate landmine explosions in southern Somalia on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.

Somali Police official said the first attack happened in Beledweyne town, the regional capital of Hiiraan region after a remote controlled bomb struck a convoy ferrying African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM).

"There was a loud explosion in the town on Wednesday morning, targeted AMISOM convoy crossing a river bridge at Koshin neighborhood in Beledweyne town," said a police office who spoke on a condition of anonymity.

No causalities were reported, however, he added that authorities have reached the scene and launched an investigation into the incident.

In a separate incident, a second bomb exploded near an army checkpoint at Tihsile area located in the outskirts of Afgoye town, located 30 kilometers  south-west of the capital Mogadishu on Wednesday,.

The bomb has ripped through the checkpoint manned by Somali soldiers, and left at least two soldiers dead and wounded five others who were taken to Wanlaweyn town, where they are receiving medical treatment.

No group has yet claimed credit for the two separate attacks, but Police said the attack in the capital bore the hallmarks of the Al Shabaab militant group. 

Al Qaida-linked Al Shabaab group carries out sporadic attacks against government officials, security forces and allied AMISOM troops in a bid to topple western-backed Federal government in Mogadishu.

GAROWEONLINE