Mogadishu re-opens airports
2007-01-02 15:34
Addis Ababa - Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi announced on Tuesday the resumption of air traffic to airports in Mogadishu after last week's closure of the country's airspace.
"From tomorrow, planes will be allowed to land in Mogadishu.
All kinds of planes, commercial or humanitarian planes," Gedi told a press conference in Mogadishu.
"But there is a condition, the companies or organisations have to follow up the rules and clearly ask for authorisation from the government.
Humanitarian agencies can also contact us," he added.
Last week, Ethiopian warplanes dropped bombs on Mogadishu's international airport and another airport north of the capital as part of efforts to drive out Islamist troops.
Addis Ababa said it carried out the attacks to stop "unauthorised flights" suspected of delivering arms to the Islamists, who early on Monday lost their last stronghold in the southern port town of Kismayo.