Somalia: Car bomb explodes next to parliament in Mogadishu

GlobalPost

A car bomb has exploded next to Somalia's parliament building in the capital Mogadishu, killing at least one person.

Reuters said the explosion happened Wednesday in a parking lot next to parliament while legislators were holding a session inside.

The car loaded with explosives was reportedly parked among those owned by Somali parliamentarians.

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A Somali soldier was killed in the explosion, Reuters reported.

Agence France-Presse said no group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast.

The news agency noted that Islamist militant group Al Shabaab have been responsible for numerous attacks in the capital in the past year.

Last week Somalia got its first female foreign minister, in a cabinet formed by new Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon.

Fawzia Yusuf Haji Adam described her new post as "historic" for both her country and Somali women in particular.

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