Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Somali Olympic chief killed in Mogadishu suicide blast

By Rohit Kachroo, NBC News Correspondent in Africa, msnbc.com staff and news services

The president of Somalia's Olympic committee Aden Haji Yabarow(Wiish) and the head of Somalia Soccer Federation Said M. Nur (Mugambe)


The president of Somalia's Olympic committee and the head of the country's soccer federation have been killed in a suicide blast at Mogadishu's newly reopened national theater that left at least 10 dead, according to reports.

Sports official Shafici Mohyadin said the two were killed on Wednesday when the blast hit the first anniversary celebration of Somalia's television station, according to the Associated Press.

Ali Muse, the head of Mogadishu's ambulance service, said at least 10 people were killed and dozens wounded, including the country's national planning minister.

Policeman Abdimalik Hassan said government officials and other dignitaries attended the ceremony.

Arab news channel Al-Jazeera reported that explosives were detonated by a suspected female suicide bomber at the ceremony.

It said the reopening of the theater on March 19 had been hailed as a sign of improving security in the war-ravaged Horn of Africa country.

Al-Shabab, the regional terror group affiliated to al-Qaida, claimed reponsibility for the attack, Reuters said.

NBC News, msnbc.com staff and Reuters contributed to this report.

Source: MSNBC

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