Somalia mine kills 5 children
Five children who stopped to play with a land mine on the way to Friday prayers died when one threw the device against a wall.
The deaths of the children, ages 7 to 12, were shocking even in this bloodstained capital, where civilians often fall victim to roadside bombs, assassination attempts and gun battles.
The mine exploded in the Hurwa district, a hotbed of support for the Islamic Courts Union, which ruled Mogadishu for six months last year before being pushed out by Ethiopian and Somalian government troops in December.
Mines kill or wound more than 20,000 people annually worldwide, according to the United Nations.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
