MOGADISHU (AFP) - At least eight people were killed and six others wounded on Sunday (Oct 22) when a bus they were travelling in struck a land mine on a road in southern Somalia.

The incident occurred about 30 kilometres north of the capital Mogadishu.

"A civilian minibus ran over a land mine between Lower and Middle Shabelle regions. Eight civilians were killed in the blast and six others wounded," said Ibrahim Abdulle, a district security official.

Local residents said the road, which passes through territory controlled by Somalia's al Qaeda aligned Shabaab group, was rarely used because of security fears.

"There was a significant risk associated with the use of that road, but the driver insisted to use it," said Moalim Mohamed Ise.

Earlier this month a huge truck bomb killed at least 358 people in Mogadishu in the country's deadliest ever terrorist atack.