At least six security guards were reportedly injured when unknown assailants hurled powerful hand grenades at the convoy of Somalia's police chief passing south of Galkayo town, the administrative capital of Galmudug region.

Witnesses say the assailants targeted General Abdi Hassan Awale "Qeybdid" who was visiting the region, but injured six security officers who accompanied the police chief.

After the blasts, security guards opened indiscriminate fire that injured at least 10 civilians.

The southern section of the town, which is controlled by a decentralized state called Galmudug, has been experiencing instability in the recent past over what the authority termed as infiltration of militant elements.

Qeybdid has on Sunday attended a ceremony in Armo town where some 600 Somali soldiers have finished a four-months training. He also held meetings with officials of Puntland.

Somali militants fighting the fragile UN-backed in central and southern Somalia have infiltrated the peaceful areas that are under the control of semi-autonomous status.(From allafrica.com -click here to go to the source)