Suicide bomber hits central Somalia town, kills four

A Somali police officer says a suicide bomber blew himself up near a government office in a central Somali town today, killing at least four people.

MOGADISHU: A Somali police officer says a suicide bomber blew himself up near a government office in a central Somali town today, killing at least four people.

Col Sabrie Ahmed said the bomber apparently intended to enter the regional administration's headquarters in Beledweyne, the provincial capital of Hiran province, but instead detonated an explosive belt strapped around his waist in a tea shop outside the offices.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast. However, Somalia's Islamic extremist insurgents, alShabab, often carry out such attacks.