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New
attacks throughout Somalia |
The
attacks, normally aimed at the interim
government or military structures (both
Somali and Ethiopian), often missed the
targets and hit homes, orphanages, hospitals
and offices. .
Monday,
February 12, 2007
New mortar
attacks were carried out this morning in the
north of Mogadishu and in the area of the
Villa Somalia presidential palace.
As reported by local and international
sources, the attacks of the past hours
follow those carried out yesterday in
Kismaayo, in south Somalia (around 500km
from Mogadishu), that left at least five
dead and more than 20 wounded.
There is still little information in regard
to this morning’s attacks, which according
to Reuters killed at least three and wounded
several others in the northern sector of the
city.
As often in the past days, the victims
appear for the most part civilians (in this
case a father and son in one episode and a
woman in another) killed when mortar bombs
hit their homes.
The attacks, normally aimed at the interim
government or military structures (both
Somali and Ethiopian), often missed the
targets and hit homes, orphanages, hospitals
and offices.
An unspecified number of people were also
wounded in another attack conducted by
unknown gunmen against the Madina police
station, in southern Mogadishu.
At around 7:40a.m. local time gunmen fired
grenades against the station of the new
Somali police, triggering a gunbattle that
lasted a few minutes.
The Ethiopian troops, present in the city in
support of the Somali transitional
institutions, yesterday sealed main streets
in the southern sector of the city, closing
off access to most of the Madina
neighbourhood. Local sources refer that top
political and military officials of the
interim government were targeted in
yesterday’s attack in Kismaayo.
Based on a reconstruction by local and
international sources, an explosion struck a
gathering organised yesterday in Kismaayo’s
central Freedom Square to welcome Somalia’s
deputy army commander-in-chief, General Abdi
Mahdi.
Shortly after some participants delivered
speeches – including government officials,
traditional elders and clan leaders - an
explosion occurred, causing people to begin
running (some are reported to have been
killed and wounded in the stampede) and
triggering an armed response of the
government soldiers on guard. The overall
toll of the incident was reportedly of five
dead and 25 wounded.
Missionary International Service News Agency
(MISNA) |
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