Somalia: Suspected al-Shabaab suicide bomber claims nine lives

Nine people were killed in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu in a suicide bomb attack targeted at visiting United Arab Emirates (UAE) diplomats on Wednesday.

The bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into the convoy of vehicles transporting the diplomats, who were unharmed in the attack.

Most of the victims were Somali civilians, reports AP.

Chaos prevailed as soldiers fired into the air to keep away crowds. People were seen carrying the wounded to nearby hospitals.

"We die like insects every day," said Ahmed Mohamed, whose wife was wounded in the attack.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack which is said to bear the hallmark of the al-Shabab extremists.

The group has vowed to step up attacks against the government and African Union forces during the holy month of Ramadan.

The militants who have ties with al-Qaeda, have relentlessly continued to target government and civilian targets despite being pushed out of much of the territory they once controlled across country.

The latest episode follows Sunday's attack against security officials in the capital when one government soldier and four militants were killed.

Anwar Gargash, the UAE minister of state for foreign affairs, meanwhile said that the "cowardly terrorist attack" would not deter UAE support to Somalia.