Bomb Attacks Kill 17 in Somali Town

Somalian police say at least 17 people were killed when two restaurants were attacked in the southwestern town of Baidao on February 28.

A suicide bomber blew himself up in the popular Beber restaurant, killing at least 10 people, local police said. The second restaurant, Redo, was hit by a car bomb.

Officials said more than 20 people were wounded in the blasts.

Police said the victims were mostly civilians. The restaurants in the town center were popular with officials and residents.

Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked extremist group, claimed responsibility for the blasts.

The attack comes two days after Al-Shabaab attacked a luxury hotel and parking garage in the capital, Mogadishu, killing 22 and injuring 40.

Al-Shabaab often carries out similar attacks in its bid to topple Somalia's Western- backed government. The group seeks to impose its strict version of Islamic rule in Somalia.

Based on reporting by AP, dpa, and Reuters