Bomb explodes in Somalia

2005-02-17 13:57

Mogadishu - At least three people died and seven were injured in a suspected bombing near a government building on Thursday in the Somali capital, witnesses said.

The injured, who were taken to hospital after the explosion, were all in a serious condition, doctors said.

According to Mogadishu residents who witnessed the blast, a motorcycle, apparently carrying a bomb, had been parked during the night outside what had been the ministry of foreign affairs. The explosion occurred at 08:4.

The situation in the Somali capital has become increasingly tense recently, with the Somali government-in-exile planning to return to Mogadishu from Kenya. Many powerful armed groups in Mogadishu oppose the plan to bring along an African Union peacekeeping force to protect the new government.

A fact-finding team is currently in Mogadishu to assess the situation ahead of the proposed move - early speculation in Mogadishu was that the bomb was meant for the AU delegation.

"There was a convoy passing here as the bomb went off, people thought it was the AU team, but it turned out to be a similar convoy heading for the airport", said one bystander.

Last week, a British journalist was shot and killed in Mogadishu. The perpetrator has not been found. - dpa

- SAPA