2 soldiers killed, many hurt in Somalian suicide blast

GAROWE, Somalia

Two Somali soldiers were killed and several others injured Monday in a suicide bomb attack targeting a military base in Somalia’s south, officials said.

The attack took place in the village of Janay Abdalla -- 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of the coastal city of Kismayo, the administrative capital of Jubaland -- where Somali forces backed by the US are based.

Ismail Mukhtar Oronjo, a Somali government spokesman, told Anadolu Agency over the phone that it was a suicide car bomb blast.

"A car bomb blast targeted a military base in Janay Abdalla earlier on Monday and at least two soldiers have been killed and several others wounded,” Oronjo said.

Mohamed Ahmed Sabrie, director communications of Jubaland Presidency, told Anadolu Agency that one US soldier was also wounded in the suicide attack.

Abdirashid Hassan, a military official in the region of lower Juba, also confirmed the attack to Anadolu Agency but said nothing about the casualties.

Somali-based al-Qaeda affiliated group al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack came 24 hours after a landmine blast near the Somali parliament building in the capital Mogadishu wounded at least two civilians.