2 killed as car bombing hits EU convoy in Somalia (Lead)

Mogadishu : At least two people were killed when a suicide car bomb struck an EU mission convoy in the Somali capital on Monday, officials said.

Abdikadir Abdirrahman, Director of Amin Ambulances, told Xinhua news agency that emergency crew transported four injured people and two bodies.

The blast occurred near the Somali Defence Ministry where a convoy of Italian troops was passing by. The police said no member of the Italian troops were killed or injured.

Witnesses reported seeing huge plume of smoke rising over the place. "It was so huge. We learnt that foreign troops were targeted. Somali forces arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area," said one eyewitness.

Militant group Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack. The Italian Defence Ministry reportedly said that no Italian soldiers were hurt in the strike.