MOGADISHU: Somali civilians bore the brunt of violence in the war-torn nation on Tuesday, with a roadside bomb killing 10 in the capital and fighter jet strikes in the south claiming three lives.
A roadside bomb exploded in a crowded area in the south of Mogadishu, where insurgents have launched repeated guerrilla attacks since pulling out of fixed positions three months ago.
"There was a heavy explosion in Wadajir this afternoon, it was a roadside bomb and we are hearing that more than ten people were killed in the explosion," said Abid Omar, a Somali police officer.
"We are still investigating who was the target, but all of the casualties are civilians," he said, adding that several people were also wounded.
Witnesses said children were killed in the violent blast, which took place on the busy Jayga road in the war-torn city.
"It was a horrible attack, I saw the dead bodies of at least nine civilians including children, there is blood and human flesh everywhere," said Sadiq Mohamed, who witnessed the blast.
In Somalia's far south, close to the Kenyan border, fighter jets killed three civilians in strikes in Shebab-held areas, the latest assault by regional armies combating militants.
"Two military jets bombed Yaqle village, which lies between El Wak and Dhamase, three civilians were killed and several others injured," said Moalim Abdulahi Mumin, an elder in El Wak, a town on the Kenya-Somalia border.
"The aircraft fired several bombs, and two of them hit near a shallow well where nomads were drawing water for their livestock. Most of the casualties are civilians," Mumin told AFP by telephone.
Sheikh Ibrahim Mohamed, regional commander of the Shebab insurgents, confirmed the air-strikes. "We are hearing the enemy military planes fired missiles at civilians, but I have no details at the moment," he said.
There was no immediate confirmation the jets were Kenyan but Nairobi sent troops and tanks into southern Somalia last month after accusing the Shebab of attacks and kidnappings on its territory.
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