At least 10 killed in bomb blast at Somalia national theatre

Mogadishu: A suicide blast during a ceremony at Somalia's newly reopened national theater on Wednesday killed at least 10 people, including two of the country's top sports officials, officials said.

Soccer federation secretary Shafici Mohyadin said the president of Somalia's Olympic committee and the president of its soccer federation were killed.

Al Shabaab rebels in Somalia claimed responsibility.

"We were behind the theatre blast. We targeted the infidel ministers and legislators, and they were the casualties of today," Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, the spokesman for al Shabaab's military operations, told Reuters.

A survivor, Zakariye Osman, said he counted at least eight dead bodies, but that he feared there were many more. Osman's clothes were covered in blood as he spoke outside the theatre.

Policeman Abdimalik Hassan said government officials and other dignitaries attended the ceremony. Ali Muse, the head of the city's ambulance service, said a casualty toll wasn't immediately known.

Reopened for first time in 20 years

The national theatre reopened for the first time in 20 years on March 19 with a concert featuring musicians playing guitars and drums. Wednesday's ceremony was held to mark the first anniversary of the start of a national TV station.

Al Shabab militants were largely pushed out of Mogadishu last year by African Union troops, and a period of relative peace has descended on Mogadishu, allowing sports leagues, restaurants and even a little night life to flourish.

Despite those advances, al-Shabab has continued to carry out suicide and roadside bomb attacks, sometimes with devastating effect.

Last October militants detonated a truck loaded with fuel drums at a government ministry gate, killing more than 100 people.