Somalia: Seven Killed in Mogadishu, Peacekeepers Receive Weapons

13 October 2009

Mogadishu — At least 7 people were killed Tuesday in the Somali capital Mogadishu after insurgents attacked African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM), with sources saying AMISOM has unloaded a weapons cache from a ship, Radio Garowe reports.

AMISOM peacekeepers in south Mogadishu were targeted Tuesday, with witnesses saying insurgents "burned" a water truck used by the African peacekeepers.

A source with the Somali insurgent group, Al Shabaab, said they attacked AMISOM soldiers and "inflicted casualties." He did not say how many insurgents died, but unconfirmed sources said two insurgents and one AMISOM soldier were killed in the attack.

Separately, four people died when Hizbul Islam insurgents attacked Somali government forces in north Mogadishu's Kaaraan and Shibis districts. One civilian was among the dead.

Mogadishu medical sources said at least 11 wounded persons were admitted for treatment.

Today's fighting comes after a week of uneasy rest in Mogadishu as Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam insurgents have been fighting each other near the southern port of Kismayo since the beginning of October.

Weapons

Mogadishu sources said AMISOM soldiers took control of neighborhoods surrounding the capital's main port on Monday, as soldiers unloaded weapons from a military ship.

It was unclear the types of weapons that were unloaded, but residents and fishermen said they were refused to go to the port or near the coast by Somali and AMISOM soldiers.

Last week, AMISOM peacekeepers unloaded weapons from a military ship under a shroud of secrecy. The 5,000-strong peacekeeping force consists of soldiers from Uganda and Burundi.

The movement at the port comes as a dispute is growing between Mogadishu business leaders and the port authority over the storage of goods.

Source: allAfrica.
Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/200910131131.html.