Two explosions rocked the seat of SomaliaÂ’s virtually powerless government today, killing the presidentÂ’s brother and three others, officials said. | I see the talks with the Islamic courts are going as planned |
The attack in Baidoa, the only town controlled by the government, was meant to kill the president, who escaped unharmed, government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari said. Mohammed Abdiqadir, the head of the presidential guard, said the presidentÂ’s brother was among the dead.
A car bomb exploded outside a parliament building where President Abdullahi Yusuf had given a speech just 10 minutes before, said Mohamed Adawe, a local journalist who witnessed the explosion. The other blast happened nearby, he said. Eight cars were burned in the explosions, including three that were in the presidentÂ’s convey, Adawe said. Somalia has not had an effective central government since 1991. An Islamic militia has seized control of much of southern Somalia. |