DHAKA: A Somali police official says at least 12 people have been killed after a suicide bomber detonated explosives in a small restaurant north of the capital.

Mohamed Abdi said on Saturday that the attack in the city of Beledweyne, about 339km north of Mogadishu, also wounded at least 10 others, reports The Straits Times.

The city is under the control of the central government and African Union peacekeepers from Djibouti are stationed there.

It was not clear who was responsible for the attack, but the extremist Islamic rebels of al-Shabab frequently stage attacks on seats of power as well as restaurants and other public places that are popular with foreigners and government soldiers.

BDST: 1803 HRS, OCT 19, 2013
RoR/JCK