Somali rebels ambush government delegation

The speaker of the transitional parliament in Somalia is missing -- his whereabouts unknown -- after rebels ambushed his delegation during a tour of the southern Bakol region.

Reports from Somalia say at least four people were killed and several others wounded in the attack, which took place at Tieglow, which is the home town of the speaker, Abdallah Derow Issak.

The rebels belong to the Rahanwein Resistance Army, which opposes the new government.

The delegation included ministers, government officials and MPs and was in the area to campaign for public support for the interim government in the face of hostility from many clan leaders.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service