Roadside bomb blast kills eight Somali soldiers in Puntland

A roadside bomb explosion in a remote town in Somalia's semi-autonomous state of Puntland has killed eight soldiers.

Media reports said at least three troops were also injured when the deadly blast targeted a military convoy in Galgala on Sunday.

The al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab terrorists group has claimed responsibility for the bomb attack. The militant group has a history of launching similar attacks across the troubled region in the past.

Somalia has been the scene of deadly clashes between government forces and al-Shabab militants since 2006.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed recently declared war on al-Shabab, calling on the militants to withdraw from the group within 60 days in exchange for jobs and education.

Al-Shabab has stepped up its deadly bombings in the capital Mogadishu since the new president took office in February.

SS