Somalia: Roadside bomb explosion wounds six government soldiers

Aweys Osman Yusuf

Mogadishu 19, July.07 ( Sh.M.Network)- At least six Somali soldiers have reportedly been wounded after their pick-up truck mounted with anti-aircraft gun hit a roadside bomb in Afgoi district, west of the capital, Mogadishu, on Thursday.

Witnesses said two battlewagons carrying number of government soldiers were on their way to their base in the district when the roadside blasted. “I could see 6 soldiers bleeding and lying on the ground when the blast occurred,” said Yusuf Ali, a witness.

He said one of the cars was badly damaged. The troops opened fire and a number of other soldiers have been deployed to blast site. “The area was sealed off by other troops who arrived after the blast and the people in the area ran away because they were afraid that they would be arrested,” he said.

In another incident four people, including one police officer, have been wounded after unknown gunmen hurled two grenades at government soldiers based in Bar Ubah residential area in south the capital, Mogadishu, on Thursday.

Witnesses told Shabelle that the explosions targeted the government forces positioned at the main road of the neighborhood, wounding the policeman. The troops opened fired toward every direction. Three civilians were hurt in the crossfire