Cars burn after a bomb exploded at a check point in Baidoa, 30 Nov 2006

An apparent suicide car bomb attack has killed at least six people outside the Somali government's seat of Baidoa.

Witnesses say between one and three suicide car bombers drove up to a checkpoint and exploded their vehicles Thursday. They say the drivers were killed along with some passengers in the vehicles.

Local officials say several civilians were hurt in the blasts, and that authorities have taken at least one survivor into custody.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Baidoa is the sole outpost held by Somalia's weak transitional government, which is being challenged by Islamists who control the capital, Mogadishu, and much of the country's south.

Islamist forces are positioned nearby but have not mounted any attacks on the town.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.