Somalia

22 civilians killed in fighting in Mogadishu

Article published on the 2009-01-24 Latest update 2009-01-24 17:33 TU

A woman injured during a car bomb explosion is rushed to hospital by her relatives in Mogadishu on Saturday
(Photo: Reuters)

A suicide-bomb attack and the ensuing gunfight in the Somali capital Mogadishu left 22 people dead on Saturday.

A car laden with explosives was headed towards an AU checkpoint in the city's K4 intersection. It was fired on by a policeman and then was rammed into a bus.

Major Barigye Ba-Hoku, the spokesman for the African Union Mission to Somalia (Amisom) told RFI that the "blast went off and killed very many people that were moving in a bus, in a minibus".

 

17 people died in the explosion and after the explosion a further five civilians died in crossfire between peacekeepers and militants.

It is not clear if the explosion was destined for the Amisom checkpoint. "I wouldn't know whether they were targeting Amisom peacekeepers but what is a fact is that, whatever their intention was, it's the innocent civilans that have died," said Ba-Hoku.

He also said that reports that the attack had been carried out by foreigners were unsubstantiated and that "it would be wrong to make a conclusion that the suicide bomber was a foreigner".

He said however that there were "foreigners in the groups that are opposed to the peace process"

Since the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia earlier this month, peacekeeping in the country is maintained by the Amisom force which comprises Ugandan and Burundian troops.

Ba-Hoku described Amisom's relationship with the Somali population as "cordial".