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  • Wednesday, 25 November 2009
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At Least 14 Killed in Somalia Blast

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Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi
At least 14 people are now dead following an explosion that rocked a soccer stadium in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, as the prime minister addressed his supporters.

The cause of Tuesday's blast is still unknown. Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi, who was not harmed, has insisted the explosion was accidental.

But other unnamed Somali officials and diplomatic sources have told various news agencies the blast was an attempt to assassinate Mr. Gedi.

Earlier Wednesday, the prime minister visited wounded patients in a hospital in Mogadishu.

This is his first visit to the Somali capital since he was appointed to the nation's first central government in 13 years.

Mr. Gedi's tour was designed to boost support for his adminstration and end a dispute among lawmakers about where and when the Somali government, now based in Kenya, should relocate.