Somalia: Explosion Kills Two in Mogadishu

 

Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)

20 May 2007
Posted to the web 20 May 2007

Aweys Osman Yusuf
Mogadishu

At least two civilians were killed on Sunday morning after a huge bomb explosion took place around Sana' neighborhood in north of Mogadishu, the Somali capital.

Around 7:30 am local time, people in Mogadishu's neighborhoods were awakened up by the deafening sound of the explosion and gunshots that followed. Witnesses said the explosion was sparked by an explosive device wrapped up in black plastic bag and placed at the corner of CC road where cleaning operation was being maintained by some people.

CC neighborhood where the routed Union of Islamic Courts and militias loyal to the former defeated Anti-terrorist Alliance covertly funded by US fought last year lies in north of the capital.

The area is frequented by Somali government troops and officials.

Government soldiers soon sealed off the area and embarked on house to house search. Number of people was taken out their homes as suspects, according to witnesses.

The incident comes a day after the Italian deputy foreign affairs minister, Patrizia Sentinelli, arrived in the volatile city to urge the transitional government to establish peace and reconciliation among Somalis who have seen no affective central authority since the ouster of former dictator, Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991.

Late last week, four Ugandan peacekeepers were killed in a roadside bomb. Witnesses said the bomb was hidden in a pile of trash on the roadside of Hamar Weyne neighborhood at the center of the Somali capital.