Mortar fires on Somali presidential compound kill 1

Insurgents in Somalia's capital yesterday fired a barrage of mortar rounds targeting the highly fortified presidential palace and main government compound, killing a guard, security officials said.

There was no claim of any responsibility for the explosions, but the al-Qaeda-affiliated Shebab rebels have staged a string of attacks in their fight to overthrow the country's internationally-backed government.

Last week two Shebab suicide bombers killed at least 25 people when they attacked major hotel close to the presidential palace and popular with top government officials.