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Africa Horn
7 killed in attack on Somali presidential palace
2009-05-28
[Iran Press TV Latest] Conflict reaches new phase as militants stage an attack on the Horn of Africa nation's presidential palace, killing 2 soldiers and 5 civilians.

According Fars news agency at least six rockets exploded near the presidential palace in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Tuesday night. Government forces' response to the attacks worsened the situation. Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed blamed Eritrea of supplying the rebels with arms and cash during a press conference on Wednesday. The African Union (AU) has requested sanctions to be imposed on Eritrea for supporting militant rebels in Somalia.

Meanwhile the UN Security Council extended the AMISOM mandate to keep African Union forces in Somalia. AMISOM is the African Unions mission tasked with controlling the violence in Somalia. More than 4,300 Ugandan and Burundian troops were deployed in March 2007, that currently protecting strategic sites in Mogadishu. The Council approved the 1872 resolution to keep AU member states military forces to maintain resolution AMISOM till end of January 2010. The UN will continue to provide logistical support including arms and services till that date.

British ambassador to the UN John Sawers said the logistical support will cost up to 200-300 million US dollars. This is while, earlier this week the AU had announced that it was not going to send more troops into Somalia.
Posted by:Fred

#1  Found this pre-report of the festivities, though I don't see a publication date.

The Somali Islamist movement of al-Shabab is going to launch a big offensive to the presidential palace to overthrow the fledgling government, sources told Mareeg on Tuesday.

The move comes as thousands of civilians fled from the capital, and it is unpredictable what will happen to the remaining civilians in Mogadishu if the plan puts on practice.

Sources say Somali officials of al-Shabab suggested a plan to attack and capture the presidential palace but the Shabab foreign officials said it is good to use artillery at first to weaken the power of the government soldiers and the AU troops who are defending the president and his staff.

Sheik Hussein Ali Fidow, the head of policy and regions of al-Shabab confirmed that foreign fighters are fighting along them and he warned against the people to describe expatriates.

The Shabab officials had a meeting in a house in the corner district of Deyniile in Mogadishu and decided to launch a big offensive to dislodge the fragile government from the country.

Residents said that at least 18 battle wagons from Kismayu have reached in Mogadishu on Tuesday to participate the fighting against the government.

The Islamists are making reinforcement from Gedo, Bay, and Bakol regions in southern Somalia to overthrow the UN-recognized government and establish an Islamic state in Somalia.

The African Union troops are defending some key areas in Mogadishu like the presidential palace, the port, and the airport.
Posted by: Seafarious   2009-05-28 00:12  

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