MOGADISHU, Feb 11: At least four people were killed and two dozen wounded on Sunday when a bomb exploded in the southern Somali port of Kismayo, witnesses said.

The explosion was another sign of spiralling instability in the shattered east African nation.

Among the injured was the recently appointed Somali military chief General Adbi Mohamed, who was addressing scores of residents in the town, about 500 kilometres south of the capital Mogadishu, a senior army officer Addurasak Asgadud said.

“At least four people have been killed and more than 24 wounded after a bomb exploded at a ceremony where people welcomed the new military chief,” said Muhammed Sheikh Duale, who was attending the meeting.

Another witness, Leila Aban, said people ran for safety after the explosion, but many seemed to have been injured when a grenade or a bomb was tossed to the crowd.

“I saw a lot of people with blood. I couldn't count the number but there were a lot of casualties. People were killed and others wounded,” Aban added.

The latest blast came a day after a series of mortar attacks in Mogadishu left at least eight people dead.

A camp for Ethiopian troops, deployed to help the weak Somali government, in southern Mogadishu was also attacked, provoking violent clashes.

Such attacks, targeted mainly against positions believed to be held by the government and its allies, have claimed dozens of lives and spread panic across the city, further complicating the government's stabilisation plan.—AFP