Bomb explodes near Turkish delegation in SomaliaJanuary 22, 2015 - 18:07 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A suicide car bomb exploded at the gate of a Mogadishu hotel where Turkish delegates were meeting on Thursday, Jan 21 a day ahead of a visit by their President Tayyip Erdogan to the Somali capital, police said, according to Reuters. At least two police officers were killed but none of the Turkish delegates were wounded in the attack which was claimed by Islamist al Shabaab rebels, said officials. Erdogan would go ahead with his trip, a source at his office in Ankara told Reuters. Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said an investigation was under way to see if the delegation was deliberately targeted. Al Shabaab, which has carried out attacks across east Africa including a 2013 raid on a Nairobi shopping mall that killed 67, claimed responsibility for the assault but did not mention the Turkish delegation or Erdogan. "We attacked (the) hotel and killed several of the Somali police officers who were meeting there," al Shabaab's military operation spokesman, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, told Reuters. A Reuters witness saw two police officers lying dead in front of the destroyed gate, and what appeared to be the mangled body of the suicide bomber. "The Turkish delegates are safe inside the hotel," police captain Farah Nur told Reuters. "The hotel was busy." Erdogan became the first non-African leader to visit war-torn Somalia in nearly 20 years when he traveled there in 2011, as Turkey's prime minister. Turkey is a key ally of the Somali government. It was a major contributor to the humanitarian aid effort at the height of the 2011 famine and Ankara continues to build hospitals and dispatch aid across Somalia. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. |