Wednesday, May 17, 2006
BBC News
At least five people have been killed in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, when Islamist gunmen attacked a warlord, breaking a three-day truce.
The attack coincided with a rally intended to call for peace, following the death of at least 140 people.
Hundreds of demonstrators, guarded by Islamist gunmen, started chanting anti-US slogans, accusing the US of backing the alliance of warlords.
Some civil society groups boycotted the event, saying it had been “hijacked”.
A compound belonging to warlord Mohamed Omar Habeb Dheere north of Mogadishu was overrun by the Islamist gunmen.
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UK minister Hilary Benn is in Baidoa to support the interim governmen |
Reuters news agency reports that Mr Dheere had arrived from his base in Jowhar at the weekend to back up the warlords’ Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism.
The US says it has not violated the arms embargo on Somalia but has said it would work with those who can help “prevent Somalia becoming a safe haven for terrorists”.
Reports suggest two of those warlords may soon be sacked from the interim government.
The government is based in the small town of Baidoa, three hours from the capital, Mogadishu.
It has not moved to Mogadishu because of security concerns, and controls only a small part of the country.
British international development minister Hilary Benn has met the president and prime minister there in a previously unannounced visit.
Mr Benn says he will be offering international support for attempts to end the anarchy.
Somalia has not had an effective national authority for 15 years since the ousting of President Siad Barre in 1991.
Source: BBC, May 17, 2006
