Mogadishu, Oct 13 (IANS): The toll from a car bomb attack near a popular cafe in Somali capital Mogadishu Sunday evening has climbed to 20, officials said Monday.
The cafe, Oroma Cafe, is along the main Maka Al Mukarrama Street that leads from the airport to the State House in Mogadishu, and was packed when the explosion happened, Xinhua reported.
This comes as Somali government forces backed by African Union peacekeeping forces continue a major offensive against Al Qaeda-linked militants, and have reclaimed key towns and villages from fighters of the radical group, including the main port town of Barawe, south of Mogadishu.
The Somali government vowed that its forces would continue the onslaught on the militant hideouts.