Somalia: Seven bomb blasts kill 3 and wound 13 in Mogadishu

Somalia: Seven bomb blasts kill 3 and wound 13 in Mogadishu

Aweys Osman Yusuf Mogadishu 12, July.07 ( Sh.M.Network)- Mogadishu's latest wave of bombings killed at least three people and wounded 13 after insurgents hurled seven grenades at Somali government soldiers based in different neighborhoods of the capital, including Bakara market. One person was killed and five others have been wounded in the latest grenade attack in Bakara. Witnesses said three of the wounded were the employees of Hormood Telephone Company based in Bakara market and the other two were passersby. "Unidentified gunman hurled a grenade at the government police moving along the company's outside door. The blast wounded three of our staff and two persons walking by, killing a businessman in the area," explained one of the employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was afraid of reprisal. An hour earlier, three grenade blasts rocked the market, killing two construction workers that were on the top of a roof and wounding four others. Witnesses said unknown gunman hurled a grenade at two police forces positioned inside the market. Our reporter, Hirabe, at the scene said the first blast occurred at a bus station in Bakara. "Minutes after the first bomb blasted, another grenade was thrown at the Somali soldiers who were coming towards the first site of the blast. We could not know the casualties because we had to run for our lives," he said. Businesspeople in the market have shut down their shops and warehouses after series of bomb explosions and gunshots fired by the Somali soldiers based in and around the market rocked the neighborhood. The government believes the market is a safe heaven for the remnants of the Islamic rebels, despite its promises that the military operations would be finalized in a three-day period. Meanwhile Somalia president, Abdulahi Yusuf, who held a news conference at top-hill palace on Thursday, said the country's reconciliation conference would take place in the volatile city. "Even if a nuclear bomb explodes in Mogadishu, the conference will happen as scheduled," he said. Also two grenade explosions occurred in Bar Ubah, and one in Wardhigley neighborhoods. Mohmoud Yare, a witness, in Wardhigley told Shabelle that he saw four people being rushed to a hospital after the blast. "I saw four people who got wounded in the blast. They were severely bleeding," he said. He said he could not tell whether it was a roadside bomb or a grenade. The area is frequented by Ethiopian troops. Suspected Insurgents also fired at least five mortar rounds at the presidential compound last night. Officials said on Thursday that three mortars hit the walls of the compound and two landed at a residential area near the president's house, killing one civilian. Face to face gun battles also took place in Hawlwadag and Wardhigley neighborhoods, south of the capital, minutes after the mortar attacks. Unknown gunmen and government soldiers based in those areas clashed, exchanging gunfire and rocket propelled grenades. Ethiopian troops based in Mogadishu's biggest football stadium also went under attack overnight. Only less than three days are left for the reconciliation conference to take place. The European Union, whose delegation arrived in Mogadishu Wednesday, urged the government to hold the twice postponed congress on July 15 and allow oppositions to attend, promising that they would send representatives. Since 1991 when warlords toppled former dictator, Siad Barre, the Horn of African nation has had no effective central government. Shabelle Media Network Somalia