Somalia: More Illegal Arms Found in Mogadishu

12 June 2007
Posted to the web 12 June 2007

ENA
Addis Ababa

The interim government troops in Somalia seized Sunday a large number of arms allegedly belonging to the defeated extremist group in fifth consecutive day of massive security operations in the capital of Somalia, Mogadishu, SomaliNet reported.

The government authorities said the allied forces stormed two garages, which locate behind SOS hospital in north of the city where they found a cache of weapons.

The arms include AK 47 rifles, anti-aircraft guns and ammunitions.

The mayor of Mogadishu Mohamed Omar Habeb 'Mohamed Dhere' and Somalia police commander Abdi Hassan Qeybdid were present when the arms were being dug from holes inside the garages.

The officials told the local media that the seized weapons will be handed over to the African Union peacekeeping forces in Somalia AMISOM.

They both stressed that the disarmament mission in the capital will continue unless all hidden arms go into the hands of the government.

Last Saturday, heavy weapons were found in Telecom Somalia Company's centre in Huriwa neighbourhood, north of Mogadishu as city's mayor Mohamed Dhere said it was the arms left by the ousted fundamentalist group and hidden in the capital.

In Huriwa and Yaqshid neighbourhoods in north of Mogadishu were the strongholds of the routed insurgents.