BAIDOA, Somalia (AFP) — A Somali government official told AFP Thursday he had escaped an assassination bid in the central region of Somalia, the latest in a string of attacks in the volatile country.

Beledweyn District Commissioner Elmi Saney said insurgents hurled a grenade at his convoy overnight in the trading post, about 350 kilometres (215 miles) northwest of the capital Mogadishu.

"They wanted to get rid of me, luckily I escaped, but three of my bodyguards were injured," he said.

"We know there are many insurgents hiding in this town and they want to kill government officials. We are investigating the incident and we will bring them to justice," Saney added.

Insurgents have meanwhile ambushed Somali forces in southern Mogadishu overnight. Clashes ensued but there were no immediate reports of any casualties.

The Somali government is battling a deadly insurgency, mainly in Mogadishu, where near-daily attacks target state officials, Somali and Ethiopian troops.

Since the ouster of Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, Somalia has had no central authority and defied several initiatives aimed at ending bloody tribal feuds and restoring stability.

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