At least 25 people have been killed after a suicide car bomber exploded at the gate to Mogadishu's airport Thursday, where a high ranking international delegation was having talks with the leaders of the Transitional Federal Government, Radio Garowe reports.
The AU said two militants blew themselves up as they tried to reach the airport terminal.
"Two suicide bombers, dressed in TFG combat uniforms, ran from the vehicles firing small arms. Both managed to run at speed through the gates, under fire from AMISOM soldiers," AU said.
The first car exploded when peacekeepers manning the checkpoint tried to stop it from entering the gate-500 yards (meters) from the terminal. Some wearing suicide vests bound out of the second car and started firing at the peacekeepers.
"Both were brought to a halt within 200 meters (yards) of the terminal building where they exploded their IED (improvised explosive device) vests," the African Union said in a statement.
The insurgent group, al-Shabab claimed it carried out the attack.
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"The Airport is a very high profile target and we always expect an attempt of sabotage here. This attack was in vain and will not deter us from our mission," AMISOM Force Spokesman, Major Barige Ba-Hoku, said adding: "AMISOM is here to protect the Transitional Federal institutions and to protect the Somali people. We will continue to do this."
According to UNHCR Reports, Over 230 people have been killed, 400 people wounded and 23,000 displaced in recent weeks of clashes between government forces and insurgents in Somalia.
Al-Shabaab, which controls most of southern Somalia, recently vowed to wage a final massive war against the U.N.-backed government and more than 7,000 African Union peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi.
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