Somali children die after picking up explosives at school playground
Children living in informal camps, established a year ago when famine hit Somalia, wander through the old cathedral in Mogadishu.
A local official in the town of Balad said at least six Somali children died after picking up explosives at their school playground, the BBC reported.
Reports said the children were among the ages of 5 to 10.
The BBC said Abdifatah Mohamed told Agence France Presse, "I heard a very loud explosion, and minutes later I saw mothers crying."
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AFP reported another 10 others were hurt. The children were playing with explosives left over from fighting in the area, according to officials.
The explosion reportedly happened shortly after school opened on Monday, AFP wrote.
Balad, which is about 20 miles north of Mogadishu, was recently seized from Islamist forces involved in the nation's two decades-long conflict between government forces and al-Shabab.
Voice of America reported on Tuesday that parliament elected a new speaker, Mohamed Osman Jawari, a major step in a UN-backed peace process.