Friday, March 02, 2007
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MOGADISHU, Somalia (AFP) - Mortar attacks in the Somali capital injured seven people on Friday a day after an advance party of African Union force arrived in the country, witnesses said.Five people were injured in a house and two in another after two mortar bombs pounded the Hamer Jajaab neighbourhood and a third hit the seaport in southern Mogadishu.
"Seven people were injured when mortar shells landed in Hamer Jajaab next to the port," Abdul Aziz Mohamed, a local resident, told AFP.
Resident Daud Ahmed confirmed the incidents. "Fortunately, no one was killed," he said.
The seaport and outlying neighbourhoods of Mogadishu are frequently targeted. Dozens have been killed and thousands forced to flee since Ethiopia-backed Somali forces ousted an Islamist movement in December.
Friday's attack shattered a five-day lull in the city, where African Union peacekeepers are due to deploy in force a bid to restore peace.
Somali officials have blamed former warlords and leaders of the defeated Islamists, who are in Mogadishu under clan protection, for the attacks.
On Thursday, about 30 Ugandan military officers arrived in Baidoa, the seat of government, ahead of next week's deployment of infantry and tank battalions in the country.
Source: AFP, Mar 02, 2007