Somali president survives assassination attempt

Mogadishu – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab, say military officials and an al-Shabaab commander.
The al-Qaeda-linked militants on Saturday launched a mortar attack at the president’s plane as it was trying to land at the airport of the southern town of Barawe, military officials said.

None of the artillery hit the target.
The plane was carrying Mohamud and some ministers. The delegation planned to visit Barawe after the army recently recaptured the town from al-Shabaab.

The militants claimed responsibility for the attack shortly thereafter.
Al-Shabaab, which wants to establish an Islamic state in Somalia, has killed dozens of government officials this year. – Sapa