MOGADISHU, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has strongly condemned Saturday's twin blasts in the Somali capital Mogadishu that left at least 12 people dead and 17 others injured.
The AU mission said in a statement that the attack on the ministry of interior premises shows that al-Shabab terrorists have no regard for the stability and progress of the Horn of Africa nation.
The first blast took place when a suicide car bomb was detonated outside the building of the interior and security ministry. The second hit near a police checkpoint adjacent to the palace.
The ministry building is located in one of the most strategic areas of the city.
A police officer who did not want to be named told Xinhua by phone that four gunmen involved in the attack on the building were overpowered by the security forces.
Security sources said two employees from the ministry and four government soldiers are among the dead.
The security official said four attackers carried out the attack, three of them were shot dead by security forces inside the ministry building while the other attacker blew himself up.
The latest attack came amid heightened security in the Somali capital following the deployment of more security forces and erection of security roadblocks along key roads.
Al-Shabab terror group has claimed responsibility for the latest attack which comes despite increased military operations against the militant group across the Horn of Africa nation.
