MOGADISHU: At least five people were killed when a minibus laden with explosives blew up in Mogadishu on Tuesday, just as the troubled country’s new prime minister unveiled his government lineup.

The blast, the latest attack in the Somali capital believed to be the work of Al Qaeda linked Shabaab extremists, occurred at a checkpoint just 500 metres (yards) from the presidential palace.

“The vehicle was stopped at the checkpoint for security screening when it went off. At least five people were killed including security personnel and 10 others wounded,” said Abdifatah Omar Halane, spokesman for the Mogadishu city administration.

“The blast was so huge, I saw smoke and dust all over the area,” local resident Abdukadir Yusuf said.

“I was on top of my house not very far away from the area, it was near the theatre and close to the presidential palace.” Somalia’s new Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre on Tuesday announced his new cabinet, made up of 26 ministers including six women, after almost a month of political bargaining.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2017