NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A police officer in Somalia says Islamic extremist gunmen shot dead a prominent lawmaker in the north of the capital, Mogadishu, late Saturday.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations plans to replace an envoy who was expelled from Somalia after questioning the arrest of a political candidate with an extremist history, the world body said Friday.

The announcement came after three days of diplomatic back-and-forth over Somalia's expulsion of Nicholas Haysom, a longtime U.N. official who has also served as envoy to Afghanistan, Sudan and South Sudan.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Somalia on Sunday marked the first anniversary of one of the world's deadliest attacks since 9/11, a truck bombing in the heart of Mogadishu that killed well over 500 people, while the man accused of orchestrating the blast was executed by a firing squad.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Eritrea and Somalia have agreed to restore diplomatic relations, both countries announced Monday in another thaw in the restive Horn of Africa region, while Somalia's leader called for sanctions on Eritrea to be removed.

Eritrea's information minister shared the joint statement on Twitter as Somalia's president ended a historic three-day visit to one of the world's most closed-off nations. The countries have not had diplomatic ties for nearly 15 years.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Another diplomatic thaw was underway Saturday in the restless Horn of Africa region as Somalia's president visited Eritrea for the first time and years of tensions gave way to an embrace.

"Somalia is ready to write a new chapter of its relations with Eritrea," Abdinur Mohamed, a spokesman for President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, announced on Twitter.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Eritrea says Somalia's president will visit the country on Saturday as yet another rivalry in the Horn of Africa region may be coming to an end. The two nations have not had diplomatic relations for nearly 15 years.

Eritrea's information minister announced the three-day visit of Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed on Twitter, saying it comes at the invitation of Eritrea's longtime leader Isaias Afwerki.

There was no immediate comment from Somalia's government.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somali lawmakers have elected the former defense minister as the new speaker of the parliament Monday.

Mohamed Mursal Sheikh, a close ally of the Somali president, comes nearly three weeks after his predecessor resigned, ending weeks of a political crisis that donors feared might threaten recent security and political gains in this troubled country.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — The Latest on explosions in Somalia's capital (all times local):

1:30 a.m.

Somalia's president says the hotel assault still underway in the capital is meant to instill fear among people who showed unity in the wake of the country's deadliest attack two weeks ago.

"They want to create fear among our people who showed support to the ongoing efforts aimed at pacifying the country," President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed said in a statement.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's president on Saturday urged troops to prepare for a "state of war" against the al-Shabab extremist group blamed for the country's deadliest attack, as the toll reached 358 with dozens still said to be missing a week after the truck bombing in Mogadishu.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Thousands of anguished Somalis gathered to pray Friday at the site of the country's deadliest attack, while the toll rose to 358 and dozens remained missing. Somalia's president will announce a "state of war" against the al-Shabab extremist group blamed for the bombing, the prime minister said.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — The Latest on deadliest attack in Somalia's history (all times local):

7:20 p.m.

Somalia's president is urging the long-fractured nation to "unite as politicians and public" to fight the extremist group al-Shabab after the country's deadliest attack.

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed spoke to thousands who marched through Mogadishu and rallied at a city stadium.

Saturday's massive truck bombing killed more than 300 people and wounded close to 400. Scores are said to remain missing.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — The U.S. military says it has carried out an airstrike against al-Shabab in Somalia as the Trump administration quietly steps up efforts against the deadliest Islamic extremist group in Africa.

Pentagon spokeswoman Maj. Audricia M. Harris said the strike occurred Sunday afternoon Somalia time and the U.S. was assessing the results.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — The U.S. military in Africa says it carried out an airstrike in southern Somalia that killed eight Islamic extremists at a rebel command and logistics camp, 185 miles southwest of Mogadishu, the capital.

A U.S. military statement said the attack happened Sunday morning. There was no immediate comment on the airstrike from Somalia's homegrown extremist group, al-Shabab, which is allied to al-Qaida.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Three bomb disposal experts were killed in a car bomb blast west of Somalia's capital on Wednesday, police said.

The bomb detonated as the experts were trying to dismantle a car laden with explosives that security forces seized in Wadajir district, Capt. Mohamed Hussein said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast. The Somalia-based al-Shabab extremist group often claims responsibility for such attacks.

LONDON (AP) — Somalia's president on Thursday called for an end to the arms embargo on his long-chaotic country, saying that if the military doesn't have more sophisticated equipment in the fight against the al-Shabab extremist group, "definitely this war will continue for another 10 years."

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia could host international games again for the first time in nearly 30 years after the new head of African soccer said on Tuesday he's open to the idea.

Confederation of African Football president Ahmad invited Somalia to start by organizing friendly games against neighbor Djibouti in the Somali capital Mogadishu. Mogadishu last hosted a senior international in 1988.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — The Somalia-based al-Shabab claims that its escalation of deadly attacks is in "doubled response" to President Donald Trump's approval of expanded U.S. military efforts against it, an organization that monitors extremist groups says.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — An organization that monitors extremist groups says the Somalia-based al-Shabab claims its recent attacks are in "doubled response" to the U.S. military's expanding efforts against it.

The SITE Intelligence Group said late Tuesday that the extremist group's Shahada News Agency posted the statements on social media on Monday.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A court in Somalia's breakaway northern territory of Somaliland has sentenced a journalist to two years in prison after he was arrested for meeting Somalia's new president.

Abdimalik Muse Oldon was charged with engaging in anti-national activities, spreading "false" news and disturbing public order.

Oldon, an online journalist, was arrested upon his arrival at the Hargeisa airport after he met Somalia's new President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed in February.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A police officer says three civilians have been killed in a mortar attack in Somalia's capital.

Capt. Mohamed Hussein said Friday at least two mortars slammed into a residential area in Wadajir district. The area is near the heavily guarded Mogadishu airport, which has seen mortar attacks by extremists in the past.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's new president on Thursday declared the country a war zone and replaced its military and intelligence chiefs while instructing the army to prepare a new offensive against al-Shabab extremists.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's parliament has endorsed the country's new cabinet, a victory for the prime minister after more than 100 legislators challenged his nominations last week.

Acting parliament speaker Abdiweli Sheikh Ibrahim said Wednesday that 224 MPs out of the 341 present voted in favor of the new cabinet, while 15 rejected it and two abstained.

Somalia's chief justice has sworn in the cabinet members.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's parliament speaker is urging the new prime minister to review his proposed cabinet after 105 lawmakers presented a petition calling for changes.

The fragile central government is trying to assert itself in this long-chaotic country after the election of Somali-American President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed last month.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A police official says a car bomb blast near a restaurant and hotel in Somalia's capital has killed at least one person and wounded two others.

Capt. Mohamed Hussein says the car bomb detonated in the middle of a road near the presidential palace.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but homegrown extremist group al-Shabab often claims deadly attacks in Mogadishu.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Somalia's president said Thursday that almost half his country's people are facing acute food shortages and about 15 percent are facing famine, and he urged the world to help.

Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed told the U.N. Security Council by video link from Mogadishu that Somalis are proud and resilient and would be the last to ask for help, but drought has spawned a humanitarian crisis that could threaten the country's recent political and security gains.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Britain's foreign secretary made a surprise visit to Somalia on Wednesday for talks with the country's new president as a worsening drought threatens millions of people in the Horn of Africa nation.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's new president declared a national disaster Tuesday for a drought that threatens millions of people and is creating fears of a full-blown famine.

The statement from the office of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed said he has appealed for help from the international community and Somalia's diaspora of 2 million.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's new President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed on Thursday appointed a political newcomer as the prime minister, shortly before departing to Saudi Arabia for his first foreign trip since his election.

Somali-born Norwegian national Hassan Ali Khaire, a former executive of British energy explorer Soma Oil & Gas, was appointed prime minister.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's new leader was inaugurated Wednesday while promising to restore dignity to the troubled Horn of Africa nation but warning it will take another two decades to "fix" the country.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, who also holds U.S. citizenship, was elected earlier this month in a step toward Somalia's first fully functioning central government in a quarter-century.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A commander of Somalia's Islamic extremist rebels denounced the country's recent election of a new president and vowed to continue fighting the government, the first official comment from al-Shabab since the president's election earlier this month.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Two civilians were killed in an al-Shabab mortar attack outside Somalia's presidential palace during a handover ceremony for the country's new leader, police said Thursday, a sign of the enormous challenges facing the man who has promised his government will make security a priority.

At least three mortars slammed into a nearby residential area during the ceremony for President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, also known as Farmajo, Capt. Mohamed Hussein said.