Deadly suicide bombing hits Somalia

A suicide bomber killed at least 14 people Saturday outside of a restaurant popular with Ethiopian and Somali troops in the central Somalia town of Baladweyne, about 210 miles north of the capital Mogadishu, local officials said.

"We have confirmed 15 people dead (including the bomber) so far and 34 injured. This is a real catastrophe for our people, it is a real loss. But we will endure it as this is not the first time," said Bashir Hussein Dhore, Baladweyne district commissioner.

The attacker walked into the restaurant and took a seat among other diners before setting off the explosives tied around his waist, one witness said.

Many of those killed or wounded are civilians, though some of the victims may also be government soldiers, reports indicated.

Al-Shabab – the Al-Qaeda-allied Somali armed group behind the deadly Westgate mall attack that killed and injured scores last month in Nairobi, Kenya – claimed responsibility for Saturday’s bombing.

"Our main target was Ethiopian and Djibouti troops who invaded our country. They were sitting there,” said Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, Al-Shabab's military operation spokesman.

Beledweyne is under the control of the central government and African Union peacekeepers from Djibouti, which borders Somalia, are stationed there.

With U.S. support, Ethiopia waged an ill-fated war in Somalia from 2006 to 2009 and sent troops across its border again in 2011 to combat Al-Shabab fighters and other armed groups, who were also battling Kenyan troops and an African Union military mission.

Earlier on Saturday, Abu Musab put the death toll from the bombing attack at 25, including troops from Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia.

There was no independent word on whether any foreign soldiers were among the casualties.

Al Jazeera and wire services