Al-Shabab's deadly attack kills tens in Somalia

A suicide car bomb laden with explosives killed at least eight people in the Somali capital today at a street junction near the president's palace.

The vehicle rammed into cars and trucks at a checkpoint, killing at least eight people, police said. The checkpoint is the one used by Somalia’s president and prime minister on their way to and from the airport in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.

One of those killed in the attack was Hibaq Abukar, an adviser for Prime Minister Mohamed Roble on women and human rights. Nine other people were wounded in the bombing, police spokesman Abdifatah Adam Hassan said.

The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group has claimed responsibility. The group often carries out such attacks in the capital.

Saturday's attack came during a moment of tension between the country's president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, and Prime Minister Roble over the hiring and firing of security staff.

The discord has threatened to delay parliamentary elections that had been set for October 10.

The al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabab terror group ruled Mogadishu until 2011 when African Union troops expelled them from the city.

They have remained in control of territory in the surrounding countryside ever since, from where they have launched frequent attacks against government and civilian targets.