Somalia: A roadside bomb blast targets an Ethiopian water truck in Mogadishu

Mogadishu 13, July.07 ( Sh.M.Network)- An Ethiopian water truck hit a roadside bomb in Ex-Control Balad, on the northern outskirt of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on Friday. Witnesses told Shabelle that the truck has emerged from an Ethiopian military base nearby while on its way to water well at Ex-Control intersection.

Isse Ahmed, a witness, said he could see the truck blown up. "There were up to five Ethiopians armed with automatic machineguns on the top of the vehicle. I ran for my life when the blast occurred," he said.

It is not yet clear if any of the Ethiopians were hurt in the blast.

Number of other heavily armed Ethiopian troops soon arrived in the area, sealing off the site and stopping buses and people on the road.

The incident comes as two mortar bombs were targeted at military bases of Ethiopian and Somali troops last night.

Two grenades have also been hurled at Somali soldiers based in former Somalia dairy factory in north of the capital. A resident who only gave his name as Mohammed said two grenades blasted at the base of the Somali soldiers. "The soldiers randomly opened fire after the two explosions," he said.

Violence escalates in the volatile city where the interim government says would the venue of the national reconciliation conference which is due to begin in less than 48 hours.